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LETTERS 

WRITTEN OX BOARD 

RiiS i^afcsitg*!5 ^Up tf)t i^ortSum!itrlanU, 

AND AT 

SAINT HELENA; 

IN WHICH 

THE CONDUCT AND CONVERSATIONS 

OF 

i3apokon 33tionapai1e, 

AND HIS SUITE, 

T>LRING THE %OYAGE,' AK^^lflJ^'yiRST MOSrilS OF III< RESIDENCE IN 
THAT ISLAND, 

ARE FAITHFULLY DESCRIBED AND RELATED. 



BY WILLIAM WARDEN, 

Surgeon mi board the Northuinberland. 



NON EGO, SED DEMOCHITUS DIXIT. 



THIRD EDITION. 



Hontron : 

PI BUSHED FOR THE AUTHOR, 
BY R. ACKERMANN, No. 101, STRAND 

A'k/ will/ be had of nil Booksellcn, in the Uruted Kingdom. 

1816. 






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INTRODUCTION. 



HAVING sailed in my professional 
character on board the ship which carried 
Napoleon Buonaparte to St. Helena, 
and having remained several months on 
the Island, the enquiries concerning him, 
on my return to England, were so re- 
peated, that I may be said to have been 
in a state of persecution from the curiosity 
which prevails respecting that extraordi- 
nary character. Circumstances, con- 
nected, with my profession, gave me fre- 
quent opportunities of conversing with 
him ; and with the principal persons of 
his suite, I may be said, particularly 
during the voyage, to have lived in rather 
intimate society. 



VI INTRODUCTION. 

The subjects of various conversations 
with him, and with them, I committed to 
my Journal, from whose pages the fol- 
lowing: Letters were formed, with such 
additions as might occur to my recollec- 
tion at the time they were written. — No 
idea, however, could be more remote 
from my mind, than that they would 
extend beyond the circle for whose grati- 
fication they were composed. But a 
wish for their publication seemed to meet 
me wherever I went ; ihe most minute 
circumstance respecting the present point 
of Napoleon's career, appeared to excite 
an extraordinary Interest, and I have 
yielded, rather reluctantly^ to become an 
Author, from persuasions I scarce knew 
how to resist ; and to which, I had some 
reasons to suspect resistance might be in 
vain. Whether these Letters will 
answer the general expectations of those 
who have seen, and of a still far greater 
number of those who have only heard of. 



INTRODUCTION. Vll 

them, I do not consider myself as qualified 
to judge. All I have to say in their fa- 
vour is this : — That every fact related in 
them is true ; and the purport of every 
conversation correct. — It will not, I trust, 
be thought necessary for me to say more ; 
— and the Justice I owe to myself, will 
not allow me to say less. 

William Warden. 



I was induced to give a Plate of Na- 
poleon, which is copied from a French 
Engraving, because, and I consider my- 
self as perfectly Master of his Lineaments, 
I think it the most decided Likeness that 
has been given of him. 

Fac Similes of the writing of extraor- 
dinary men are, I am told, particular 
objects of research, and therefore I have 
introduced the graphic Characters of 



Vlll INTRODUCTION. 

Napoleon, in a note on General Ber- 
trand's Sketch of the Battle of Areola. 

The Medal was struck on Napoleon's 
marriage : the Original, which is in gold, 
was presented to me by General Bertrand. 
He considered it as of great Medallic 
value from its rarity . I have since heard, 
however, that these Medals are by no 
means uncommon, at least in inferior 
metal. But be that as it may, an apology 
will not, I presume, be thought necessary 
for having given an engraving of it. — At 
the same time it may be proper to observe, 
that the smaller circle is the size of the 
Medal. The emblematic representation 
was enlarged for the better illustration of 
the design. 



LETTERS 

FROM 

SAINT HELENA, 

Sfc. Sfc. Sfc. 



At Sea, 



MY DEAR 



IT is, certainly, not the first time 
that I have been induced to exclaim how 
strange and unexpected are the occurrences 
of Life ; how frequently is the calm of to-day 
succeeded by the storm of to-morrow, and 
the ordinary course of Nature interrupted by 
phoenomena, which the Philosopher himself 
is puzzled to explain : But the world of po- 
litics illustrates the Doctrine of Wonders as 
much as the operations of the Elements. — 
Nothing, I presume, could have been less 
probable to the view of Captain Maitland's 
mind when he was ordered on duty ofFRoch- 

B 



( 2 ) 

fort than the voluntary surrender of the Ex- 
emperor of France and his suite, with bag and 
baggage, on board the Bellerophon. To have 
taken the ship on which he might have at- 
tempted to make his escape, was a natural 
expectation, as it would have been a probable 
event ; but the manner in which such an ex- 
traordinary person submitted himself to his 
custody, must have taken him, which could 
not have happened in any other part of his 
duty, by surprize. Indeed, to compare small 
things with great, I cannot reconcile to my 
common notions of probability the subject of 
my present Epistle, and that the Letters 
which you would naturally expect to receive 
from me, instead of the common topics of a 
sea voyage, should contain an account of the 
conduct, and information respecting the cha- 
racter of Napoleon Buonaparte, from the per- 
sonal opportunities which my situation so un- 
expectedly afforded me. 

Such has been the attention which this 
eminent person has attracted ; so great the 
daily croud of boats, and other vessels filled 



( 3 ) 

with curious spectators, (some of wliom it is 
confidently said, have come on purpose from 
remote parts of the country, and even from Lon- 
don,) to snatch such a glimpse of him as could 
be caught at the distance they were obliged 
to keep from the Bellerophon, on whose gang- 
May he occasionally stood ; that I feel myself 
more than justified in supposing the most 
trifling particulars, respecting him and his 
suite, to be welcome to you and those of our 
common friends, to whom you may chuse to 
communicate them ! and of this you may 
be assured, that I shall inform you of little 
that occurred after Napoleon put his foot on 
the deck of our ship but what I myself saw and 
heard. My piece-meal narrative, for such it 
must be, will have the merit of authenticity, 
if it should be thought to have no other. I 
have written down every thing respecting our 
distinguished passenger, as it has hitherto 
happened ; and I shall continue to do so as cir- 
cumstances occur, in the way best suited to a 
Seaman, by adopting the form of a Journal. 
You must, therefore, expect nothing but a 
succession of detached articles ; a recital of 



( 4 ) 

domestic occurrences, if I may use the ex- 
pression, on board a ship, as they occurred, 
when the Ex-emperor offered himself to my 
observation ; and 1 shall begin with his short 
passage from the Belkrophon to the North- 
umberland, 

On the 3d of August, 1815, his Majesty's 
ship Northumberland, Captain Ross, bearing 
the flag of Admiral Sir George Cockburn, 
who was selected by Government for this im- 
portant duty, weighed anchor from Spithead, 
and, after having contended with adverse 
winds, came within sight of the Berry-head, 
a head-land forming the extremity of Torbay, 
at an early hour of the day. She was there 
joined by the Tonnant, Captain Brenton, 
bearing the flag of Lord Keith, Admiral of 
the Channel fleet, accompanied by the Bel- 
krophon, Captain Maitland, the latter ship 
having onboard Napoleon Buonaparte. — 
As soon as signals were exchanged with the 
approaching ship, a salute was fired from 
the Northumberland, and answered by the 
Tonnant, — Lord Keith, having had an inter- 



( ^ ) 

view with sir George Cockburn, anchored un- 
der Berry-head, to avoid, as it was supposed, 
the eager curiosity of the very numerous visi- 
tors in all descriptions of vessels, who con- 
stantly surrounded the Bellerophon. The re- 
mainder of the evening passed without any 
occurrence that is worthy of notice. 

On the following morning, the Count de 
las Cases, Chamberlain to the Ex-emperor, 
came on board to arrange the requisite ac- 
commodations for his fallen master. The 
baggage followed — nor shall I attempt to de- 
scribe the universal and anxious curiosity 
which was displayed on board, to see the effects 
of the extraordinary personage to whom they 
belonged ; the sole remaining possessions of 
a man who had so lately commanded the art, 
industry, and produce of many kingdoms : 
But it was not calculated to gratify the ex- 
pectation that awaited its arrival. One ma- 
hogany case, indeed, was distinguished by the 
Imperial arms, but the rest exhibited no better 
figure and appearance than the properties of 
an itinerant theatre. 



( 6 ) 

The Count de las Cases does not exceed 
five feet and an inch in height, and appears 
to be fifty years of age, of a meagre form, 
and with a wrinkled forehead : His dress 
was a French naval uniform. His stay on 
board the Northumberland did not exceed an 
hour ; but, while he was employed in the hasty 
discharge of his office, his diminutive ap- 
pearance did not fail to invite observations 
from the inquisitive beholders. Some of 
them, I could fancy, expected Herculean fi- 
gures to be employed in the service of a man 
who had lately bestrode so large a portion 
of Europe. If there were any under such im- 
pressions, and we never can answer for the 
impression of the moment, they had certainly 
forgotten, if they had ever been informed, 
that Alexander the Great, the mighty Lord 
of vanquished nations, is represented in his- 
tory as a man of small stature — and, indeed, 
they were shortly to be convinced, that Bona- 
parte himself would not gratify any expecta- 
tions of an athletic figure. 

From eleven to twelve we were prepared- 



( ? ) 

to receive Napoleon on board — and, Lord 
Keith, as it may be presumed, from a noble 
delicacy to his situation and feelings, declined 
receiving the usual compliments attendant on 
his rank, that they might, according to their 
settled form, devolve on the Ex-emperor, whose 
sounding Titles had passed away with the 
power that bestowed them. The rank of 
General is considered as adequate to all his 
claims on a Government who never acknow- 
ledged him under any other. A Captain's 
guard of marines was arranged on the poop, 
to wait his arrival, with orders to present 
arms, and the drum to beat the roll thrice; 
the usual salute to a general officer in the 
British service. 

The barge of the Tonnant reached the 
Northumberland in a few minutes after it 
left the Bellerophon *. Our quarter-deck 

* I have been given to understand that Buonaparte's 
conduct on board the Bellerophon had been such as rather 
to conciliate the good humour of all on board, so that his 
departure was not attended with the slightest mark of 
disapprobation or disrespect ; but with that kind of awful 
silence which accompanies the fatal close of a public exe- 
cution. 



■ ( 8 ) 

was covered with officers, and there were 
also some individuals of rank, who had 
come round from motives of curiosity, to 
view the passing scene. Besides the object 
of general attraction and attention, the Barge 
contained Lord Keith and Sir George Cock- 
burn, Marshal Bertrand^ who had shared in 
all his Imperial Master's fortunes, and the 
Generals Montholon and Courgon, who had 
been, and still continued to retain the titles of, 
his Aides-de-Camp. As the Boat approached, 
the figure of Napoleon was readily distinguish- 
ed, from his apparent resemblance t© the va- 
rious prints of him which are displayed in the 
windows of the shops. The Marines occupied 
the front of the poop, and the officers kept the 
quarter-deck. An universal silence prevailed 
when the Barge reached the side, and there was 
a grave, but anxious aspect in all the specta- 
tors which, in the opinion of others as well as 
myself, was no small addition to the solem- 
nity of the ceremonial. Count Bertrand as- 
cended first, and having bowed, retired a few 
steps to give place to him whom he still con- 
sidered as his Master, and in whose pi-esence 
he appeared to feel that all his most respectful 



( 9 ) 

homage was still due. The whole ship's com- 
pany seemed at this moment to be in breath- 
less expectati on . Lord Keith was the last who 
quitted the barge, and I cannot give you a 
more complete idea of the wrapped attention 
of all onboard to the figureof Napoleon, than 
that his Lordship, high as he is in naval cha- 
racter, Admiral also of the Channel Fleet, to 
which we belonged, arrayed in the full uni- 
form of his rank, and emblazoned with the 
decorations of his orders, did not seem to be 
noticed, nor scarcely even to be seen, among 
the group which was subject to him. 

With a slow step Buonaparte mounted the 
gangway, and, on feeling himself firm on the 
quarter-deck, he raised his hat, when the 
guard presented arms and the drum rolled. 
The officers of the Northumberland, who 
were uncovered, stood considerably in ad- 
vance. Those he approached, and saluted 
with an air of the most affable politeness. 
He then addressed himself to Sir George 
Cockburn, and hastily asked for the Capitainc 
de Vaisseau, who was immediately introduced; 



( 10 ) 

but finding that he did not speak French, he 
successively spoke to several others, till an 
officer of artillery replied to him in that lan- 
guage. Lord Lowther, and the Honourable 
Mr. Lyttelton were then introduced to him ; 
and, in a few minutes, he intimated a desire, 
though more by gesture than by words, to 
enter the cabin, where he continued for about 
an hour. 

His dress was that of a General of French 
Infantry, when it formed a part of his Army. 
The coat was green faced with white ; the 
rest was white, with white silk stockings, and 
a handsome shoe with gold oval buckles. He 
was decorated with a red ribbon and a star, with 
three medals suspended from a button-hole. 
One of them represented the iron crown, 
and the othei's, different gradations of the Le- 
gion of Honour. His face was pale, and his 
beard of an unshaven appearance. Indeed, 
his general aspect justified the conjecture that 
he had not passed the preceding night in 
sound repose. His forehead is thinly covered 
with dark hair, as well as the top of his head, 



( 11 ) 

which is large, and has a singular flatness : 
what hair he has behind, is bushy, and I could 
not discern the slightest mixture of white in 
it. His eyes, which are grey, are in continual 
motion, and hurry rapidly to the various 
objects around him. His teeth are regular 
and good ; his neck is short, but his shoul- 
ders of the finest proportion. The rest of 
his figure, though a little blended with the 
Dutch fulness, is of a very handsome form. 

It may be thought, perhaps, that I am 
very minute in my description of this distin- 
guished person, — but I fancied you would 
expect it of me, and that your well-known, 
predominant curiosity on the subject must 
be gratified by it. Besides, I may be naturally 
induced, from my studies, my profession, and 
my habits, to examine the human figure with 
an anatomical eye ; and, on particular occa- 
sions and with particular objects, I have 
sometimes ventured, for I may safely acknow- 
ledge it to you, to indulge a reverie as to 
the conformation of the human frame, and 
deduce notions, erroneous enough perhaps, 



( ^2 ) 

from a comparative view of corporal form 
and structure, with intellectual capacity and 
leading" dispositions. Indeed, I am ready 
to acknowledge that I actually presumed to 
play Lavater a little with the late Emperor 
of France and King of Italy — but I shall not 
trouble you, at present, with the result of my 
vagaries. 

On returning upon deck, he engaged in 
conversation with Lord Lowther, Mr. Lyttel- 
ton, and Sir George Byngham, for an hour 
before dinner. — It is understood, that he com- 
plained of the severity with which he was 
treated, in being consigned to pass his days 
on the Rock of St. Helena, buffetted by the 
winds, and amidst the waste of waters ; Eind 
that he could not comprehend the policy or 
the apprehensions of England in refusing him 
an asylum, now that his political career was 
terminated. He continued to repeat a suc- 
cession of questions to the same effect, with 
some degree of impetuosity ; but it would be 
taking a liberty with Mr. Lyttelton, who prin- 
cipally maintained the discourse with him, to 



( 13 ) 

repeat that Gentleman's replies from the in- 
formation of others. 1 shall only observe, that 
they were accompanied with that courteous 
address which might be expected of him. 

In a conversation which I had with Count 
Bertrand on the following day, he complained 
in very forcible terms, of the needless cruelty 
of their allotment. The Emperor, he said, for 
that title he continued to receive froqi his at- 
tendants, had thrown himself on the mercy of 
England, from a full and consoling confidence 
that he should there find a place of refuge. 
He asked, what worse fate could have befallen 
him, had he been taken a prisoner on board 
an American ship, in which he might have 
endeavoured to make his escape. He rea- 
soned, for some time, on the probability of 
success in such an attempt ; and they might 
now, he added, have cause to repent that his 
Imperial Master had not risqued it. — He then 
proceeded : — 

" Could not the Emperor think you, have 
placed himself at the head of the army of the 



( 14 ) 

Loire ? and can you persuade yourself that 
it would not have been proud to range itself 
under his command ? And is it not possible 
— nay, more than probable, that he would 
have been joined by numerous adherents 
from the North, the South, and the East ? 
Nor can it be denied that he might have 
placed himself in such a position, as to have 
made far better terms for himself than have 
now been imposed upon him. It was to 
save the further effusion of blood that he 
threw himself into your arms ; that he trusted 
to the honour of a nation famed for its 
generosity and love of justice ; nor would 
it have been a disgrace to England to have 
acknowledged Napoleon Buonaparte as a 
citizen. He demanded to be enrolled among 
the humblest of them ; and wished for little 
more than the Heavens as a covering, and 
the soil of England, on which he might tread 
in safety. Was this too much for such a man 
to ask ? — surely not : nor could such a man 
imagine, in any moment of depression, if it 
were possible for such a spirit as his to be so 
depressed, that the boon would be refused 



( 15 ) 

him. It might rather have been a subject 
of pride to England, that the conqueror of 
almost all Europe but herself, sought, in his 
adverse fortune, to pass the remainder of a 
life, which forms so splendid an epocha in 
the history of our age, in any retired spot of 
her domains, which she might have allotted 
him." 

He acknowledged that Napoleon had 
consulted him as to the probable magnani- 
mity of the English government, on the mea- 
sure then in contemplation ; but in this in- 
stance, he said, " I refused the opinion which 
he requested of me. It was not from any pre- 
conceived opinion to the prejudice of the 
English nation, no, — far from it, that I he- 
sitated for once to obey him. But I could 
not allow myself to become his counsellor in 
such a critical moment, and on a matter of so 
much importance to the comfort of his future 
life and the honour of his name. I was not 
afraid of any personal injury being offered to 
him : of that I entertained not the shadow of 
an apprehension ; but I thought it not im- 



( 16 ) 

possible that his liberty might be endangered, 
as indeed it was, by the resolution of that 
hour. I was so agitated by my hopes and 
my fears in alternate succession, that 1 could 
only beg of him to accept my loyal and faith- 
ful assurance that I ^vould wait upon his 
fortunes whatever they might be ; but it 
was for him alone to shape the way to them. 
Nor can I express," he added, " how much I 
rejoice at my persevering resolution ; for had 
any opinion of mine been accessary, in the 
slightest degree, to the situation in which 
I now behold my Emperor, I should never 
again enjoy a peaceful moment." The terms 
in which he expressed his thoughts, and the 
tones which animated them, proved the 
state of his feelings. There was a kind of 
soldier-like resolution in his manner ; but, I 
could perceive that sorrow was in his heart : 
and firm as I am in my loyalty as an English- 
man, and proud as I am, and as every man, 
born in our glorious island ought to be, of 
that distinguished name, and though his en- 
thusiasm betrayed him into sentiments and 
opinion, in which I could not, by any means, 



( 17 ) 

acquiesce, I do not hesitate to acknowledge 
my disposition to admire the emotions of this 
faithful Frenchman. 

Madame Bertrand's complaints were dif- 
ferent in their character as well as language 
from those of the Count her husband : her 
air and manner were sometimes even accom- 
panied with a gleam of distraction. " What 
can you think," she once said to me, "of ray 
situation ? does it not appear to you to be 
most lamentable ; and where are expressions 
to be found that can suit the description of it 
to the poignancy of my feelings ? >Vhat a 
change for a woman who had held a high 
rank in the gayest and most splendid court in 
Europe ; where her consequence was such th.it 
thousands sought her smiles and were ])roud 
to bask in them. The wife of Count Ber- 
trand, Grand Marshal of the Palace of the 
Emperor of France is now destined with her 
three children, to accompany an exiled hus- 
band to an insulated Rock, where the pride 
of station, the pomp of life, and the song of 
pleasure, will be exchanged for a scene of 

c 



( 18 ) 

captivity ; and such, with all its promised at- 
tentions and indulgencies, it must appear to 
us, surrounded as it is, by the barrier of a 
boundless ocean." 

She was curious to know what the people 
of England thought of her husband ; when I 
told her that, as far as I could judge, they 
entertained an higher opinion of him than 
of any Marshal of France, and that his faith- 
ful attachment to Napoleon had a romantic 
air which was not without its admirers in 
England. It was, indeed, in consequence of 
that determined feeling, in opposition to what 
might be supposed to be his real interest, and 
the earnest entreaties of his family, that 
Madame Bertrand had well nigh completed 
an act of suicide. The agonizing attempt to 
throw herself from the Bellerophon into the 
sea took place, it seems, in the evening of the 
day when Napoleon was informed of his fu- 
ture allotment, and, probably, at the moment 
when the afflicting communication was first 
made te her. 



( 19 ) 

The Little Bertrands are interesting chiU 
dren : the youngest is between three and four 
years old; the eldest is a native of Trieste, and 
was born when his father was Governor of the 
Illyrian Provinces ; the second is a girl of an 
animated disposition, that betrays occasional 
symptoms of violence. The military charac- 
ter appears to have almost exclusively seized 
on the infant minds of these sprightly urchins : 
from morning till night they are employed in 
fencing, marching, charging on a half-canter, 
in imitation of cavalry, Sfc. ^c, in which the 
girl joins with a true Amazonian spirit, under 
the direction of a little French boy, who, I 
presume, was born in a camp. 

When I accidentally mentioned to Madame 
Bertrand that it had been generally supposed 
she intended to have remained in England, for 
the education of her children, she, with a kind 
of wild but interesting expression of counte- 
nance, not unusual with her, vehemently ex- 
claimed " What, Sir, leave my husband at 
such a moment ! That is a degree of heroism 
which my heart disavows : though in a year, 
c 2 



( 20 ) 

perhaps, 1 may be induced to return/' And 
on Qiy suggesting that a favourable opportu- 
nity would be offered on board the Northum- 
herland., she appeared to acquiesce in the pro- 
bability of such an event. 

Neither Count or Madame Montholon 
can speak English : he is a handsome little 
man, and she a very elegant woman ; they 
have one common comfort, and they seem 
to think it so, in a charming little boy : 
You must perceive, that I am by degrees, 
though rather in an irregular manner, making 
you accjuainted with the whole of our cu- 
rious party ; but you must be sensible that 
it is the best mode which I can employ. 

— Buonaparte, previous to his leaving the 
Belleropho7i, was, it seems, recommended to 
select three of his suite to accompany him to 
St. Helena. Bertrand was, at that time, sup- 
posed to be particularly proscribed ; but it is 
understood that Lord Keith took upon himself 
the reponsibility of including such an at- 
tached friend in the number of the exiled 



( 21 ) 

General's attendants. The others were the 
Count de las Cases, who had been a Captain in 
the French Navy, and is a man of hterary at- 
tainments ; General Count Montholon, and 
Lieutenant-General Gourgond, his two Aides- 
de-Camp, who were devoted to his fortunes. 
The latter Officers served him in the Russian 
Campaign, and describe the winter which they 
encountered there in all its horrors. The 
Russian cavalry they extol ; but represent 
the Cossacks as easily dispersed. They do 
not appear to hold the Prussians in very high 
estimation, but consider them, at the same 
time, as superior to the Austrians. The Eng- 
lish Infantry, at the battle of Waterloo, filled 
them with absolute astonishment ; but they 
represent our Cavalry as much too impetuous ; 
they probably found them so on that glorious 
day. 

In a conversation with Count Bertrand, 
which happened to glance on that subject, 
he could not hide his sensations. The little he 
said was in a plaintive tone, though expressed 
with candour, and accompanied with expres- 



( 22 ) 

sive shrugs of lamentation. " We fought that 
day," he said, " for the Crown of France ; but 
yoa gained the battle, and we are undone.'* — 
I asked him whether he had read Marshal 
Ney's Letter to the Duke of Otranto, in de- 
fence of his conduct on the bloody field. That 
publication, it appeared, he had not seen ; 
and when 1 informed him in what manner the 
Marshal had censured his Master's conduct, 
and that, in the public opinion, he was thought 
to have cleared himself from the imputation 
of erroneous conduct; — "Well, well," he 
replied, " Had I been in the commaiad of 
Marshal Ney's division, I might, perhaps, 
have done worse : but, as I was, I saw much 
to blame;" but, in comparing Buonaparte 
with Ney, he cast his eyes upwards to the 
heavens, and suddenly lowering them to the 
earth, he exclaimed, with a very significant 
action, " indeed, indeed, the difl'erence is 
equally great." 

— From the information I received in my 
conversation with our French guests, it ap- 
pears that the Emperor's abdication in favour 



( 23 ) 

of his Son, is a matter, which, as far at least 
as my knowledge extends, has been altoge- 
ther misconceived in England : I mean as re- 
ferring to the immediate and proximate causes 
of it. If the communications made to me 
were correct, and I am not willing to imagine 
that they were invented merely to impose upon 
me, a grand political scheme was contrived by 
Fouche to out-wit his Master, and it proved 
successful. The name of that crafty politician 
and ready revolutionist is never mentioned by 
the members of our little cabin Utica without 
the accompaniment of execrations, which it 
is not necessary for you to hear, as it would 
be ridiculous for me to repeat. Not Tal- 
leyrand himself is so loaded with them as the 
Arch-betrayer, who has been just mentioned. 
It was, indeed, a decided opinion of the mo- 
ment, among our Exiles, that Fouche would 
contrive to hang Talleyrand ; or that the lat- 
ter would provide an equal fate for the former ; 
and that if they both were suspended from the 
same gibbet, it ought to be preserved as an 
object of public respect for the service it had 



( 24 ) 

done to mankind, by punishing and exposing 
two as consummate offenders as ever disgraced 
the social world. — The Historiette to which I 
have alluded, was thus related. — 

On Napoleon's return to Paris, after his 
disastrous defeat at Waterloo, and when he 
may be supposed to have been agitated by 
doubt and perplexity, as to the conduct he 
should pursue in that extraordinary crisis ; a 
Letter was offered to his attention by the Duke 
of Otranto, as having been received by the latter 
from Prince Metlernich the Austrian Minister. 
It was dated in the preceding Aprils and the 
diplomatic writer stated the decided object of 
his Imperial Master, to be the final expulsion of 
Napoleon the First from the throne of France; 
and that the French nation should be left to 
their uninterrupted decision, whether they 
would have a monarchy under Napoleon the 
Second, or adopt a Republican form of Go- 
vernment. — Austria professed to have no 
right, and consequently felt no intention to 
dictate to the French Nation. The final and 



( 25 ) 

ratified expulsion of the Traitor, (such was 
the expression) is all the Austrian Emperor 
demands of France. 

Napoleon seized the bait ; and immedi- 
ately abdicated in favour of his Son : but he 
had no sooner taken this step, than he disco- 
vered fhe double game that Fouche was play- 
ing-. The Letter was a forgery, and it soon 
appeared that the Emperor of Austria had it 
not in his power, if he had ever indulged the 
contemplation, to clothe his Granson with 
political character. 

After he quitted Paris, the Ex-emperor 
and his suite pursued an uninterrupted pro- 
gress to the sea-coast, and it is their opinion 
that they might have continued in an inactive 
state, and without any reasonable apprehen- 
sion of disturbance, for a much longer time 
than Buonaparte's impatience would allow, 
in the vicinity of Rochfort. 

— On his first arrival among us, he occa- 
sionally expressed a wish to be informed of 



( 26 ) 

the contents of the English newspapers; but as 
it could not be a pleasant circumstance to him, 
to be made acquainted with the manner in which 
his character, conduct, and circumstances 
were necessarily treated and observed upon 
by our Journals, there was a delicacy main- 
tained in the avoiding a communication of 
their contents. That truth is not to be spoken, 
or i n any way imparted , at al 1 times, is a proverb 
which was now faithfully adhered to on board 
the N ortlim)iherland. The Count de las Cases 
had indeed offered to qualify his General in 
the course of a month, to read an English 
newspaper, with the requisite intelligence of 
the language ; an undertaking which it is not 
very probable he would have been able to 
accomplish ; but he could not induce his 
Master to become his Scholar : for the matter 
was cut short by the following reply. — " I 
well know that you think me a very clever 
fellow : but be that as it may — I cannot do 
every thing ; and among those things which 
r should find impracticable, is the making 
myself master of the English language, in a 
few weeks/* 



( 27 ) 

— Here I shall conclude my first Letter ; 
or, as it may prove, the first division of my 
epistolary narrative : at all events, it will he 
ready forthe first opportunity which occurs for 
its transmission to you. — If it tends to your 
amusement, or, in any degree, to the satisfac- 
tion of your curiosity, tant mieux : but be 
that as it may, it will give me the opportunity 
of saying — How do you do ? — God bless you ! 
as well as of offering* my sincere regards and 
kind remembrances to our common friends. 

Adieu, &c. &c. 

W. W. 



At Sea, 

MY DEAR , 

I renew my desultory occupation : — 
la tache journaliere^ telle quevous la voulez. — 
On the first day of his arrival on board, our 
distinguished Passenger, displayed rather an 
eager appetite : I observed that he made a very 



( 28 ) 

hearty dinner, which he moistened with claret. 
He passed the evening on the quarter-deck, 
where he was amused by the band of the 53d 
regiment ; when He personally required them 
to give the airs of " God save the King," and 
" Rule Britannia." At intervals he chatted 
in a way of easy pleasantry with the officers 
who were qualified to hold a conversation with 
him in the French language. I remarked that, 
on these occasions, he always maintains what 
seems to be an invariable attitude, which has 
somewhat of importance in it, and probably 
such as he had been accustomed to display at 
the Thuilleries, when giving audience to his 
Marshals or OflScers of State. He never 
moves his hands from their habitual places in 
his dress, but to apply them to his snuff-box ; 
and it struck me as a particular circumstance, 
to which 1 paid an observing attention, 
though it might have been connected with 
his former dignity, — That he never offered a 
pinch to any one with whom he was con- 
versing. 

— ^On the subsequent day he breakfasted 



( 29 ) 

at eleven. His meal consists of meat and 

claret, which i;^ closed with coffee. At 

dinner, I observed that he selected a mutton 
cutlet, which he contrived to dispose of with- 
out the aid of either knife or fork. 

— He passed much of the third day on deck, 
and appeared to have paid particular atten- 
tion to his toilette. He receives no other 
mark of respect from the officers of the ship 
than would be shewn to a private gentleman, 
nor does he seem to court or expect more 
than he receives. He is probably contented 
with the homage of his own attendants, who 
always appear before him uncovered, so that 
if a line were drawn round them, it might be 
supposed that you saw an equal space in the 
Palace of .Sam if Cloud. 

— He played at cards in the evening : the 
game was Whist, and he was a loser. It 
did not appear to be played in the same way 
as is practised at our card-tables in England ; 
but I am not qualified to explain the va- 
rieties. 



( 30 ) 

— The whole of the next day Napoleon 
passed in his cabin. It was generally per- 
ceived by his attendants that he was sea- 
sick ; but he was either so little of a sailor, 
if that can be supposed, as not to know the 
ordinary effects of a ship's motion on persons 
unused to the sea, or he suspected that his 
Megrim arose from some other cause ; for, it 
seems, he would by no means allow the salt- 
water origin of it. None of his people, I pre- 
sume, would venture, on the occasion, to re- 
peat to him his brother Canute's practical 
Lecture to his Courtiers, on the unmannerly 
power of the ocean. 



— Among his baggage were two camp- 
beds, which had accompanied him in most 
of his campaigns. One of them, a very im- 
probable destination when it was first con- 
structed, was now an essential article of his 
cabin ; the other was no longer to give repose 
to some military hero, in the hurry of a cam- 
paign, but is pressed by such a marine heroine 
as Madame Bertrand, amidst the dashing of 



■( 31 ) 

waters. They are, however, altogether as 
comfortable as the combined skill of the 
upholsterer and the machinist could make 
them. They are about six feet long and 
three feet wide, with strong green silk 
furniture : the frames are of steel, and so 
worked and shaped as to surprize by their 
lightness and the consequent ease with which 
they are moved. When I happened to be 
seated on one of them, I could not but reflect 
on the battles of Wagram, Austerlitz, Fried- 
land, Sfc, Sfc. 

This was a situation, where the politician 
and the sage might be inspired, as it were, 
to contemplate the changes and the chances 
of the world ; but as I do not presume to 
possess enough of those characters, either dis- 
tinctly or collectively, to justify my engaging 
in a train of rejection on these affecting 
subjects, I shall leave such employment to 
your better thoughts, and the exercise of your 
entliTiisiastic propensity. 

— •N^otwithstanding it blew fresh, and 



( 32 ) 

there was considerable motion, Buonaparte 
made his appearance upon deck between 
three and four, p. m. when he amused himself 
with asking questions of the Lieutenant of 
the Watch : such as, how many leagues the 
ship went in an hour ? — whether the sea was 
likely to go down ? — what the strange vessel 
was on the bow of the Northumberland P — 
In short, enough to prove that nothing es- 
caped his notice. But I could not help smil- 
ing when I beheld the man who had stalked 
so proudly, and with so firm a step over sub- 
missive countries, tottering on the deck of a 
ship, and catching at any arm to save himself 
from falling ; for he has not yet found his 
sea-legs. Among other objects of his attention, 
he observed that Mr. Smith, who was taking 
the usual to-and-fro walk with his brother 
midshipmen, to be much older than the rest; 
and, on this account, he appears to have asked 
him how long he had been in the service ; and, 
being ansMcred — nine years — he observed, 
that surely, is a long time. — It is, indeed, 
said Mr. Smith, but part of it was passed in a 
French prison ; and I was, Sir, at Verdun, 



( 33 ) 

when you set out on your Russian cam- 
paign." Napoleon immediately shrugged up 
his shoulders, with a very significant smile, 
and closed the conversation. 

— I must here tell you, once for all, if I 
have not already made the observation, that 
he seldom or ever omitted an opportunity of 
asking a question ; and it was about this time 
that he made a most unexpected enquiry of 
our Orthodox Chaplain : — whether he was 
not a Puritan P I need not tell you what 
would be the reply, and you may conjecture, 
probably, what might be the feelings, of a 
gentleman clothed in canonical orders, and 
firm in canonical principles, when he was sa- 
luted with such an interrogatory. 

He wished also to have his curiosity gra- 
tified respecting a religious community in 
Scotland called Johnsonians^ who, he under- 
stood, were a very active sect in that part of 
Britain. His conversation, at all times, con- 
sisted of questions, which never fail to be put 
m such a way, as to prohibit a return of them. 

D 



( 34 ) 

To answer one question by another, which 
frequently happens in common discourse, was. 
not admissible with him. I can conceive that 
he was habituated to this kind of colloquy, 
when he sat upon such a throne as that which 
supported him, and before which no one 
spoke but when be commanded utterance: 
nor does he seem disposed to lay it aside 
when he sits in the cabin, stands in the gang- 
way, or patroles the deck, of a ship, where he 
is subject to the controul of its commander. 
The foundation of this singular question, 
therefore, was not attainable. As in the va- 
rious plans he had laid for invading our tight 
little Island, as the song has it, it is not im- 
probable that he might have looked towards 
the Hebrides, as capable of favouring his de- 
sign ; and, if so, Doctor Johnson's Tour thither 
might have been curiously consulted, and may 
I not deduce these Johnsonians from such 
a combination of circumstances ? — Many a 
doubt has been reconciled by more vague 
conjectures : that eminent writer's opinions, 
however, as you will probably suggest, are not 
altogether calculated to form a sect on the 



( 35 ) 

other side of the Tweed. But, hadinage apart^ 
I should be glad to know the origin of these 
Johnsonians; and if we should be tossed and 
tumbled, in the course of our voyage, into a 
sufficient degree of familiarity for me to ask a 
question of the Ex-emperor, I will endeavour 
to be satisfied. 

— He appeared to be very much struck by 
two long-boats (gigs) placed with their bot- 
tom upwards on our launch on the booms : 
their singular length attracted his notice, 
while their particular use and application 
produced such a succession of enquiries on his 
part, as almost to suggest an opinion, that he 
entertained a suspicion of their being a part 
of the naval apparatus peculiarly provided 
to prevent his escape from the Island to which 
he was destined. The answer he received 
was a quiet remark as to their general em- 
ployment in the British fleets ; to which 
he made no reply. 

—The name of Talleyrand happening to 
occur in the course of conversation, with our 
d2 



( 36 ) 

French shipmates, the high opinion enter- 
tained of his talents by the Buonapartists 
was acknowledged, without reserve. On my 
asking at what period he was separated from 
the councils and confidence of Napoleon, it was 
replied, at the invasion of Spain. I then ob- 
served, that the reports in England, respecting 
that circumstance were correct as to time, and 
I presumed were equally so as to the cause ; — his 
unreserved disapprobation of that bold and ad- 
venturous enterprize. This met with an instant 
contradiction ; which was followed by a most 
decisive assertion, that the Prince of Benevento 
approved of the Spanish war, and founded his 
recommendation of that measure on his unal- 
terable opinion, which he boldly communi- 
cated to the Emperor, that his life was not 
secure while a Bourbon reigned in Europe. 

I entered further on this subject with 
Madame Bertrand, and she actually and most 
unequivocally asserted, that Talleyrand was 
in secret communication with Napoleon 
when they were last at Paris, and that he 
would have joined them in a month. His 



( 37 ) 

proposed departure from Vienna to take the 
Waters at Aix la Chapelle was under the 
cloak of mdisposition, to conceal his duplicity. 
" Can you persuade yourself, Madame," I 
said, " that Talleyrand, if he had the incli- 
nation, possessed the power to influence the 
Court of Vienna in favour of the Son-in-law/* 
" The court of Vienna! she exclaimed, " O 
yes, yes : he has the capacity to influence all 
the courts of Europe! — If he had but joined 
the Emperor, we should, as this instant, have 
been in Paris, and France would never more 

have changed its Master." Of this man's 

virtues I heard no eulogium: but you will 
now be a competent judge how his political 
talents were appreciated in the French circle 
on board the Northumberland. 

— On my asking Count Bertrand which of 
the French Generals had amassed the greatest 
portion of wealth ; He, without the least hesir 
sitation, mentioned Massena ; though, he 
added, they have all made very considerable 
fortunes. Macdonald, Duke of Tarentum, he 
appeared to think had made less than any 



( 38 ) 

other. Of Davoust, Duke D'Eckmuhl, he 
spoke, to our extreme astonishment, in an 
animated strain of panegyric, which was in- 
stantly met with an outcry from all who heard 
it, respecting the conduct of that officer, at 
Hamburgh, w hich we represented as atrocious 
beyond example. This he would not allow ; 
on the contrary, he described him as a 
zealous, correct, and faithful commander; 
and far from being destitute of humanity ; as 
notwithstanding his notions of military obe- 
dience, which were known to be of the most 
rigid kind, he did not act up to the severity of 
his instructiions. As for his taking a bribe, 
Bertrand declared him to be incapable of 
such baseness; and asserted, from his own 
knowledge, that a very large sum had been 
offered him, to connive at the sailing of some 
ships from Hamburgh in the night, which he 
refused with the disdain of a faithful soldier 
and an honourable man. 

Count de las Cases, also took up the sub- 
ject of the marshals of France, and spoke of 
them with very little reserve. He described 



( 39 ) 

Massena as having been originally a Fencing 
Master ; but, that, previous to his campaign 
in the Peninsula, he was considered by the 
French nation as equal, if not superior, to 
Buonaparte in his military capacity. From 
that period the Count represented him as 
having dwindled into absolute insignificance. 
He is avaricious, he said, in the extreme, 
though he has only one child, a daughter, to 
inherit his enormous wealth. He then pro- 
ceeded to relate the following circumstance 
of the Marshal, as the accidental topic of the 
moment. 

" The preservation of the Army, oa 
crossing the Danube, was boldly attributed 
by the soldiers who composed it, and con- 
sequently re-echoed as the opinion of the 
nation, to the superior skill, and persever- 
ing courage of Massena. It appears, that 
a sudden and impetuous inundation of the 
river had destroyed all possible communica- 
tion between its right and left bank, when 
half the French force had passed it. The re- 



{ 40 ) 

mainiiig half were without ammunition, when 
Massena threw himself into the village of 
Estling, where he withstood fifteen repeated 
attacks of the Austrians, and effected the es- 
cape of that part of the French Army from 
the destruction which threatened it. The 
eulogiums which the army and the nation la- 
vished on Massena, for his conduct and the suc- 
cess which crowned it, partook of that clamor- 
ous character which implied no inconsiderable 
degree of blame and censure oh Buonaparte 
himself, who was supposed to have felt it. 
But he contrived, nevertheless, to dissipate 
the opinion, by conferring the title of Prince 
of Estling on Massena, as the merited reward, 
and magnanimous acknowledgment of a ser- 
vice on which depended, for the moment, the 
success and honourable issue of the campaign. 
Soult, he said, is an excellent officer, and iVey, 
brave to a fault ; but Suchet possesses a more 
powerful intellect, with more enlarged infor- 
mation, and political sagacity, as well as more 
conciliatory manners, than any of the Mar- 
shals of France." 



( 41 ) 

He then mentioned Admiral GanthaumCj 
and asked what character was assigned, in the 
English News-papers, to that naval officer. I 
replied, that they gave him no small credit 
for his spirit in advancing out of Port, and 
his success in getting back again. " Yes,'* he 
answered, with a significant look and tone, 
" good at hide and seek." — He was the friend 
of Louis, and then of Napoleon, and then 
of Louis again : he is, in fact, what you call 

the Vicar of . I assisted him in 

completing the proverbial expression, by 
adding the word — Bray ; which he imme- 
diately caught, and exclaimed, — " Aye, aye, 
He is the Vicar of Bray. — He is an old man," 
the Count added, " but his indiscretions," 
which, however, he did not particularize, 
" were rather of a juvenile character." 

— In the afternoon our chief Passenger 
continued longer on deck than he had done 
before, and his countenance denoted a feel- 
ing of disquietude. His questions all re- 
lated to the state of our progress, and 
marked an impatience to arrive at the ter- 



( 42 ) 

mi nation of his voyage. He probably expe- 
rienced some degree of inconvenience from 
his confined situation, having been long ac- 
customed to exercise that bordered upon vio- 
lence» His appearance, 1 understand, was 
rather meagre, till about the time that he 
became First Consul. If he had been other- 
wise, his campaigns in Egypt were sufficient to 
have reduced him : but though his exertions 
both mental and corporeal have since been 
such as to destroy any constitution but his own, 
which must have been of an extraordinary 
internal texture, to have enabled him to sus- 
tain them, his health has rather been improved 
than impaired ; and, during the last ten years, 
he has gradually advanced into corpulence. 

—It is a singular circumstance that Count 
Montholon, whom I have already mentioned 
as one of the Imperial Aides-de-Camp, is the 
son of a General officer of that name, whom 
Buonaparte served in the same capacity dur- 
ing the Revolutionary War. — All the family, 
except his father and himself, have been de- 
cided Royalists, and are possessed of large 



( 43 ) 

property : but the General is dead, while the 
son has sacrificed fortune, and abandoned his 
family, to share, with his wife and child, the 
exiled state of his former Sovereign ; whom it 
is his pride still to love and serve under that 
title, and with all the feelings of duty and 
loyalty which his enthusiastic fidelity attaches 
to it. 

— I give you IVladame Bertrand's descrip- 
tion of young Napoleon, as very beautiful, in 
order to introduce his father's laconic English 
account of him. The boy, he says, resembles 
him only in the upper part of his form. " He 
has one grand, big head/' — The same Lady, 
speaking of the Buonaparte family, represents 
the female part in terms of no common ad- 
miration. With the exception of the Princess 
Piombina she describes the sisters as pos- 
sessed of extraordinary beauty : with these 
charming women, therefore, and to use the ex- 
pression of the grand, big head of them all, I 
shall conclude my second grand, big Letter. 

Sec. &c. &c. 

w. w. 



( 44 ) 

At Sea, 



MY DEAR 



I have already, I believe, mentioned 
to you that it was thought a becoming atten- 
tion to the feelings of the French party to 
withhold from them the sight of the News- 
papers, which were sent off to us before we 
sailed. 

Count Bertrand took an opportunity to 
ask me if I had perused them ; and, on my 
replying, as you may suppose, in the affirma- 
tive, he proceeded to question me as to their 
contents. I accordingly informed him, that 
they had observed on the secret visit he was 
believed to have made to Paris, previous to 
Napoleon's return to France. H is countenance 
on my communicating this circumstance, in- 
stantly indicated a strong feeling of resent- 
ment; and it was evidently disclosed by the 
manner in which he replied. — " I well know" 
he said, " that the English Newspapers have 
accused me of visiting Paris in disguise, some 
months before the Emperor's departure from 



( 45 ) 

Elba. But I solemnly declare that I never 
set my foot in France in the way that has 
been attributed to me. I might have gone to, 
Italy, if I had pleased, but 1 did not quit Elba 
for a moment till my Emperor quitted it. — It 
has also been asserted on similar authority, 
That I had taken an Oath of Fidelity to the 
King : — an assertion that is equally ground- 
less ; for, I never once beheld a single indi- 
vidual of the Bourbon Family of France." 

— I give you the account of Buonaparte's 
return to France, as it was casually and briefly 
related to me. — " The Duke de Bassano was 
the chief actor. Individuals had gone from 
several departments in France to Elba, and 
the then Emperor had been induced to sus- 
pect that the allies determined to send him to 
the Island to which he is now destined. On 
what authority this apprehension was ground- 
ed, not the most distant idea was communi- 
cated. It is certain, however, that he enter- 
tained it with such seriousness, as to induce 
him to make the resolute attempt in meditation, 
before the connecting plot was ripe for overt 



( 46 > 

measures in France. Even after his little 
army was embarked, a dispatch arrived from 
his friends, which contained the most earnest 
entreaties to postpone his enterprize, if it were 
only for one month. — Whether, if he had re- 
ceived them before he had quitted the Island, 
they would have been sufficient to check his 
impatience and quiet his alarms, was not a 
subject of conjecture : but be that as it may, 
whatever the counsels were, they arrived too 
late to be followed ; — the die was cast." 

— A circumstance occurred to-day which, 
as you may well imagine, created no small 
degree of interest among our passengers, as 
well as a busy scene of interrogation . — a 
French brig, with the white flag flying, bore 
us company. 

— General Gourgon amused us with a variety 
of details respecting the campaigns in Russia 
and the Peninsula, which he himself witnessed; 
Of these I shall only select two or three : for 
recitals which will enliven the monotony of a 
quarter-deck, may not be worth communicat- 



( 47 ) 

ing to those who are surrounded with the va- 
rieties that are to be hourly found in the large 
circle of social life. — He described the in- 
tenseness of the frost in Russia with a degree 
of astonishment that afforded us some amuse- 
ment. You may easily guess the wonderful 
contrast of situation, when a Frenchman, the 
native of so fine a climate, and who had been 
serving in Spain, found himself transferred 
to a part of the globe where the tears became 
globules of ice on his cheeks ; and where the 
soldiers, stupified as it were by the cold, in 
the act of shaking themselves, to recover their 
feeling, would frequently fall down and in- 
iBtantly expire. 

— He also mentioned the following curious 
circumstance at the siege of Saragossa. — The 
French had mined a Convent, where a body 
of Spaniards had taken refuge. The besiegers 
had no intention to destroy the building, 
but merely to blow up a wall, in order to 
frighten the besieged into a surrender. The 
explosion, however, extended further than 
was expected, and a considerable destruction 



( 48 ) 

of the Spaniards took place, but sixteen of 
them were described to escape, as you will 
acknowledge, in a most extraordinary manner. 
They, it seems, ascended the spire of the 
church, taking with them an ample supply of 
arms and ammunition, with which, notwith- 
standing the utmost efforts of the French, 
they defended themselves with admirable gal- 
lantry and resolution for three days. But this 
is not all : at the end of that period it was 
discovered that they had made their escape 
from the perilous situation, to the extreme 
astonishment of the besieging party ; who, 
as pious Catholics, might be justified in attri^ 
buting it to the saving interposition of the 
Guardian Saint of the Convent. The means, 
however, which they employed were of mortal 
contrivance. By the aid of packthread which 
had been conveyed to them from an adjoining 
building, they contrived to draw up a suffi- 
cient quantity of ropes, with which they let 
themselves down from the elevated fortress, 
and effected their preservation. This, I think, 
may be added to the numerous histories of 
Castles in the Air : or, if I dare venture any 



( 49 ) 

thing' like a Pun to you, of Chateaux en 

Espagne. 

During the evening Napoleon addressed 
his enquiries to Captain Beatty of the Marines, 
who speaks French with great fluency. They 
related to the regulations and discipline of the 
Marine troops, ^c. ^c. Nor could he have 
chosen an officer who was better qualified to 
gratify his military curiosity on the subject 
which at this time employed it. — Captain 
Beatty had served with Sir Sidney Smith in the 
East, and was at the Siege of Acre ; an event 
that is not among Buonaparte's most pleasing- 
recollections. When, however, he was in- 
formed of this circumstance, he treated it 
with great good humour, and seizing the 
Captain by the ear, exclaimed in a jocular 
tone, " Ah, you rogue, you rogue ; were you 
there ?" — He then asked what was become of 
Sir Sidney Smith : when he was told that the 
gallant Knight was at this time on the 
Continent, and had submitted a proposi- 
tion to the Congress at Vienna to destroy 
the Corsairs on the Coast of Barbary, an 



( 50 ) 

instant reply was given, " That it was, as 
it had long been, most disgraceful to the 
European powers, to permit the existence of 
such a nest of miscreants." This opinion con- 
firms, in some degree, what has been sug- 
gested respecting a proposition that Andreossi 
is said to have been instructed to make to our 
Government, during the short peace with 
Consular France. In this interval of hostili- 
ties, a notion is entertained that the First 
Consul proposed a co-operating expedition 
between the two powers to destroy, root and 
branch, the piratical States of Barbary ; on 
which occasion, as the story goes, he offered 
to supply the military force, if England would 
engage to furnish all the naval implements, 
necessary to give effect to an enterprize so 
honourable to them both. — If such proposi- 
tions were actually made , there can be no 
doubt that sufficient reasons then predomi- 
nated for hesitating in the acceptance of them; 
and the hasty renewal of the war put an end 
to all further deliberations, if any had ever 
existed, on the subject. 

— The next enquiries which Napoleon made, 



( 51 ) 

were respecting the British Artillery service : 
they were addressed to the Captain of Artillery 
on board, whom he found completely qualified 
to answer the numerous questions which he 
addressed to him. {understand that his first 
entrance into the Army was in the Artillery 
Corps, and the subject was consequently the 
more interesting", and a very few weeks only 
had passed away since he had fully experienced 
our field tactics in that branch of warfare. — 
He descended into all the minutse of the ser- 
vice, and enquired into the state and disci- 
pline of the non-commissioned Officers, Bom- 
badiers, Miners, and Privates of every cha- 
racter. The education of the Cadets was 
also scrutinized, and he particularly asked, if 
they were instructed by Professors in Mathe- 
matics, Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, &c. — 
and in order that there might be a clear un- 
derstanding as to the specific terms of art, he 
called the Count de las Cases to assist in this 
scientific conversation. The only observa- 
tions he made were those of surprize at our 
bringing twelve-pounders into the field, and 
the strength, as well as perfection, of this 
e2 



( 52 ) 

branch of the British military force, of which 
he seemed not to have entertained an adequate 
comprehension. 

I premised, at the outset of my Epistolary 
Narrative, that you were to expect sudden 
transitions to very unconnected objects ; and 
I now give you an almost laughable example, 
by passing from the artillery of England to 
the crown jewels of France, of which Buon- 
aparte recovered, as I understand, but one 
article, which was a Diamond Cross, whose 
value was estimated at Twelve thousand 
pounds sterling. I am also informed, that 
when Grouchy telegraphed the capture of the 
Duke D'Angoulesme in the South of France, 
an order was instantly returned, that what- 
ever property was found in his possession, 
should be instantly restored to him. 

You may probably have observed that our 
chief Passenger does not make his enquiries 
at random. — Indeed, He always addresses 
them to such persons as, from their official 
characters, are particularly qualified to give 



( 53 ) 

explanatory answers : or, which may be the 
most probable circumstance, the official ap- 
pearance of persons whom he accidentally en- 
counters suggests the subject of his interro- 
gations, as his curiosity directs itself to the 
apparent departments of those with whom 
He at any time converses. He might, there- 
fore, be induced to take me in my own way, 
when I was an object of his notice ; and 
Physic seems to be no unpalatable subject 
with him. He thinks very highly of exercise 
on horseback, as more conducive than any 
other to the preservation of health ; and I 
have been informed that during his passage 
in the Bellerophon, and confident in the ex- 
pectation that he should be received by our 
Government, he frequently anticipated his 
enjoyment of the field-sports in England. 

—Every one remembers the threatened in- 
vasion of England in 1805, and the various 
conjectures which were formed on this mo- 
mentous subject. It was not, according to 
my recollection, by any means, generally con- 
sidered as practicable ; nor did any very great 



( ^4 ) 

great apprehensions prevail that it would be 
attempted. I will, however, give you my au- 
thority for the actual intention of carrying it 
into execution.— Buonaparte positively avers 
it. He says, that he had two hundred thousand 
men on the Coast of France opposite to 
England, and that it was his determination 
to head them in person. The attempt he 
acknowledged to be very hazardous, and the 
issue equally doubtful. His mind, however, 
was bent on the enterprize, and every possi- 
ble arrangment was made to give effect to 
its operations.— It was hinted to him, how- 
ever, that his Flotilla was altogether insuffi- 
cient ; and that such a ship as the Northum- 
berland would run down fifty of them. This 
he readily admitted : but he stated that his 
plan was to rid the Channel of English men 
of war ; and for that purpose he had directed 
Admiral Villeneuve, with the combined fleets 
of France and Spain, to sail apparently for 
Martinique, for the express purpose of dis- 
tracting our naval force, by drawing after 
him a large portion, if not all, of our best 
ships. Other Squadrons of Observation would 



( 55 ) 

follow ; and England might, by these man- 
oeuvres, be left sufficiently defenceless for his 
purpose. Admiral Villeneuve was directed, 
on gaining a certain latitude, to take a baffling 
course back to Europe, and, having eluded the 
vigilance ofiVe/507i,to enter the English Chan- 
nel. The Flotilla would then have sallied forth 
from Ostend, Dunkirk, Boulogne, and the ad- 
joining ports. The intention was to have 
dashed at the Capital, by the way of Chatham. 
He well knew, he added, that he should 
have had to encounter many difficulties ; the 
object, however, was so great as to justify 
him in making the attempt. But Villeneuve 
was met on his return by Sir Robert Calder ; 
and, having suffered a defeat, took refuge in 
Ferrol. From that Harbour he was peremp- 
torily ordered to Sea, according to his original 
instructions ; but, contrary to their most impe- 
rative and explicit intent, he steered his course 
for Cadiz. " He might as well," exclaimed 
Napoleon — raising his voice, and encreasing 
his impetuosity, *' he might as well have gone 
to the East Indies." — — Two days after Vil- 
leneuve had quitted his anchorage before 



( 56 ) 

Cadiz, a Naval Officer arrived there to super- 
sede him. The glorious Victory of Trafalgar 
soon followed, and the French Admiral died 
a few days after his arrival in France : Report 
says— by his own hand. 

— Having given such a specimen of his 
active spirit, I am about to surprise you, per- 
haps, by the information that this man, who, 
in the course of his career, seems scarcely to 
have allowed himself time to sleep, while he, 
for so many years kept the world awake, is 
now become the most decided sleeper on 
board the Northumberland, — During the" 
greater part of the day he reclines on a sofa, 
quits the card-iable at an early hour in the 
evening, is seldom visible before eleven in the 
morning, and not unfrequently takes his 
breakfast in bed. But he has nothing to do, 
and a Novel will sometimes amuse him. 

— It had been a favourite conjecture, in 
several of the Newspapers, that Buonaparte, 
who had risqued Death in so many forms in 
the Field of Battle, and whose courage can- 



( 57 ) 

not, I should suppose, be liable to suspicion, 
would, nevertheless, play the Coward at last, 
and put an end to his life, rather than suffer 
the disgrace of being sent a banished man 
and a captive to St. Helena. The prevalence 
of such an opinion reached the ear of the ob- 
ject of it, who calmiy replied,—" No, no, I 
have not enough of the Roman in me to de- 
stroy myself." 

The subject was continued in consequence 
of the incidental mention of Mr. \^ hitbread's 
name, and the unhappy termination of his life. 
That circumstance, as well as the political 
character of Mr. M hit bread, was not altoge- 
ther unknown to Napoleon. After having 
described him as a faithful and active friend 
to his country, but who never betrayed any 
illiberal or local prejudices against the ene- 
mies of it, he seemed dispijsed to attribute 
the lamentdble event to the moisture of our 
climate. He was not ignorant of the efiects 
ascribed to our gloomy month of November, 
and multiplied his questions as to the preva- 



( 58 ) 

lence of fogs in our Island, and their supposed 
effects on the physical system of its inhabit- 
ants, so as to produce those hypocondriac 
disorders and the tcedium vitce, to which self- 
destruction is frequently imputed. He rea- 
soned for some time with no common inge- 
nuity on the unexpected topic, and concluded 
with this decisive opinion : — " Suicide is a 
crime the most revolting to my feelings ; nor 
does any reason present itself to my under- 
standing by which it can be justified. It cer- 
tainly originates in that species of fear which 
we denominate cowardice, (PoltronerieJ. For 
what claim can that man have to courage who 
trembles at the frowns of fortune. — True he- 
roism consists in becoming superior to the 
ills of life, in whatever shape they may chal- 
lenge him to the combat."' 

— General Montholon is of a very cheer- 
ful, lively disposition ; but Madame, sa tres 
chere femme, is in continual application to 
medical assistance. — Her emperor on enquir- 
ing of Mr. O'Meara the state of her health, re- 



( 59 ) 

peated the question of Macbeth, in the fol- 
lowing manner : — 

" Can a physician minister to a mind diseased, 
" Or pluck from memory a rooted evil, 

Madame Montholon," he continued, " is 
alarmed at the idea of St. Helena. She is 
destitute of that firmness so necessary to her si- 
tuation, and irresolution is ^ weakness that is 
unpardonable even in a woman*.*' — It is, in- 
deed, very evident, that we are indebted for 
the company of the ladies in our voyage, to 
the romantic devotion of the gentlemen their 
husbands to the object for which it was un- 
dertaken. Madame Bertrand could not even 
persuade her femme de chambre to quit Paris, 
till she had obtained permission for the wo- 
man's husband and son to accompany the 
suite. 

* Mr. O'Mearawas Surgeon on board the Bellerophon; 
and, when Buonaparte's medical attendant declined a 
continuance of his professional duties, he volunteered his 
services ; a circumstance highly approved of by the Com- 
mander of the Chanel fleet. — Nor should I be satisfied 
with myself if I did not bear testimony to his superior skill 
in his profession, to the honour of his character, and the 
virtues of his heart. 



( 60 ) 

—I shall now proceed to give the account of 
an interesting conversation which I had with 
the Count de las Cases on the final resolution 
of Napoleon to throw himself on the genero- 
sity of the English Government. He prefaced 
his narrative with this assurance ; " No page 
of Ancient History will give you a more faith- 
ful detail of any extraordinary event, than I am 
about to offer of our departure from France, 
and the circumstances connected with it. The 
future Historian will certainly attempt to 
describe it ; and you will then be able to judge 
of the authenticity of his materials and the 
correctness of his narration. 

" From the time the Emperor quitted the 
capital, it was his fixed determination to pro- 
ceed to America, and establish himself on the 
banks of one of its great rivers, where, he 
had no doubt, a number of his friends 
from France would gather round him ; and, 
as he had been finally baffled in the career 
of his ambition, he determined to retire from 
the world, and beneath the branches of his 
own fig-tree, in that sequestered spot,tranquilIy 



( 61 ) 

and philosophically observe the agitations of 
Europe." — On my observing that the good 
people of Washington might entertain very 
different notions of his philosophy, and rather 
contemplate with apprehension such a colony 
as he would establish, Las Cases replied, 
" Oh, no ; the career of Napoleon's ambition 
is terminated." He then proceeded. 

" On our arrival at Rochfort, the difficulty 
of reaching the Land of Promise appeared to 
be much greater than had been conjectured. 
Every enquiry was made, and various projects 
proposed ; but, after all, no very practicable 
scheme offered itself to our acceptance. At 
length, as a dernier resort, two chasse-marees, 
(small one-masted vessels) were procured; 
and it was in actual contemplation to attempt 
a voyage across the Atlantic in them. Six- 
teen Midshipmen engaged most willingly to 
direct their course; and, during the night, 
it was thought that they might effect the 
meditated escape, — We met," continued Las 
Cases, " in a small room, to discuss and come 
to a final determination on this momentous 



( 62 ) 

subject; nor shall I attempt to describe the 
anxiety visible on the countenances of our 
small assembly. — 1 he Emperor alone retained 
an unembarras-sed look, when he calmly de- 
manded the opinions of his chosen band of 
followers, as to his future conduct. The ma- 
jority were in favour of his returning to the 
army, as in the South of France his cause still 
appeared to wear a favourable aspect. — This 
proposition the Emperor instantly rejected, 
with a declaration, delivered in a most decided 
tone and with a peremptory gesture, — That 
he never would be the instrument of a Civil 
War in Fraiice. — He declared, in the words 
which he had for some time frequently repeat- 
ed, that his political career was terminated ; 
and he only wished for the secure asylum 
which he had promised himself in America, 
and, till that hour, had no doubt of attain- 
ing.-— He then asked me, as a JNaval Officer, 
whether 1 thought that a voyage across 
the Atlantic \^as practicable in the small 
vessels, in which alone it then appeared that 
the attempt could be made. — ^1 had my 
doubts," added Las Cases, " and I had my 



( 63 ) 

wishes: The latter urged me to encourage 
the enterprize ; and the former made me he- 
sitate in engaging for the probability of its 
being crowned with success. — My reply indi- 
cated the influence of them both. — I answered, 
that I had long quitted the Maritime pro- 
fession, and was altogether unacquainted with 
the kind of vessels in question, as to their 
strength and capacity for such a navigation 
as was proposed to be undertaken in them ; 
but as the young Midshipmen who had vo- 
lunteered their services, must be competent 
judges of the subject, and had offered to risque 
their lives in navigating these vessels, no 
small confidence, I thought, might be placed 
in their probable security. — This project 
however, was soon abandoned, and no alter- 
native appeared but to throw ourselves on the 
generosity of England." 

" In the midst of this midnight Council, 
but, without the least appearance of dejec- 
tion at the varying and rather irresolute opi- 
nions of his friends, Napoleon ordered one 
of them to act as Secretary, and a Letter to 



( 64 ) 

the Prince Regent of England was dictated. 
— On the following day, I was employed in 
making the necessary arrangements with 
Captain Maitland on board the Bellerophon. 
That Officer conducted himself with the ut- 
most politeness and gentlemanly courtesy, 
but would not enter into any engagements on 
the part of his Government ; and, with the 
exception of Lieutenant Colonel Planat, 
every person in the suite of Buonaparte 
buoyed themselves up with the hopes that 
they should receive at least, the same treat- 
ment which had been manifested to Lucieri 
Buonaparte in your country ; and with that 
consolatory expectation we arrived off the 
coast of England." 

— ^The performance of Divine Service, as 
is usual on board His Majesty's ships, to dis- 
tinguish and offer due honour to the Sabbath 
Day, happened to introduce a discourse on 
the subject of Religion with the principal per- 
sons of the suite ; when we were generally in- 
formed thattheir chief had thought proper,after 
dinner, to speak on the subject of Religious 



( 65 ) 

Faith : his opinions it was not deemed ne- 
cessary to communicate any further, than 
that they were generally of the most liberal 
and tolerating character. — One circumstance, 
however, it was thought proper to assert, as 
from his own instant authority — That his pro- 
fession of the Faith of Mahomet, and avowed 
devotion to the Crescent, in Egypt, was a mere 
act of policy to serve the purpose of the mo- 
ment. — This fact appeared to be asserted with 
particular energy, from the knowledge pos- 
sessed by the party communicating it, of the 
abhorrence which Buonaparte's having de- 
clared himself a Mussulman, excited in Eng- 
land. But the zeal of the moment was not 
calculated to throw any new light upon the 
manoeuvre, or to soften the original opinion 
entertained of it. — Indeed, I ought to have 
told you before, in order to account for any 
apparent knowledge of the opinions generally 
prevailing in England, respecting the French 
Revolution and the leading characters in it, 
previous to the Peace of Amiens, if allusions 
should have been made to them, — that the 
Count de las Cases had resided among us as 
an Emigrant, till that event. 



( 66 ) 

— I shall here observe, that whenever an 
opportunity offered, the zealous attendants of 
Napoleon, never failed to represent him in a 
manner, that might lessen any unfavourable 
impressions, which they supposed the English 
entertained respecting him, whether personal 
or political. The impetuosity of his temper 
being' mentioned, it was not denied ; but his 
frequent and even habitual correction of it 
w as illustrated by these two anecdotes, which 
De las Cases related as facts, among many 
others, known to himself. He related them 
in the following manner : 

" I was at St. Cloud, when Captain Mieu- 
lieuse waited upon the Emperor on his return 
from England. — He had been taken in the 
Didon, by an English frigate, the Phcenix, 
commanded by Captain Baker*. On my in- 

* A short time previous to the battle of Trafalgar, the 
Didon was sent from Ferrol by Admiral Villeneuve to as- 
certain what English ships were off the Coast. This Fri- 
gate, carrying 44 guns, and 330 men, had instructions to 
avoid fighting ; but falling in with the Phoenix of 36 guns 
and 254 men, commanded by Captain Baker, her small size 
seemed to justify the French Captain in disobeying, his or- 
ders : he backed his main-top-sail and lay-to till thePhcenix 



( 67 ) 

troducing him, his Majestysaicl,in a very harsh 
tone of voice, " So, Sir, you surrendered your 
colours to an enemy of inferior force : how can 
you answer for your conduct ?" — " Sire,** re- 
plied Mieuliuse, " I did my utmost ; my men 
would fight no longer." — " If so,*' answered 
the Emperor, " when an Officer is disobeyed 
by his men, he should cease to command : 
Therefore, begone." About six months after 
this mortifying reception, and when his con- 
duct had been inquired into, he was appointed 
to the command of a squadron at Venice. 

— " The Emperor had a confidential se- 
cretary, a man of superior talents, who was 
blessed with a disposition so mild, and a tem- 
per so smooth, that it was almost impossible 
to trouble the one, or to ruffle the other. The 
impetuosity of his Imperial Master, with 

ranged up along-side, and commenced the action ; when, 
after a most determined conflict of three hours, part of which 
time they were on board each other, the Didon struck, being 
a complete wreck. I was at that time Surgeon of the 
Phoenix, and can therefore bear testimony to the admirable 
conduct and bravery of Captain Baker, his Officers and 
Crew, on this memorable occasion. 
F 2 



( 68 ) 

the uncertain and unreasonable hours when 
he was frequently summoned to his duty, 
and the calm preparation in which he Avas 
ever found to perform it, sufficiently proves 
the character that has been given of him. — 
Napoleon seldom took a pen into his hand ; 
his general practice was to dictate to others, 
which he did with the rapidity of thought : 
and if an idea struck him in the middle of the 
night, the secretary in waiting was instantly 
summoned to transmit it to paper. This offi- 
cer had happened, on one of these hasty oc- 
casions, to have mistaken an expression as it 
was dictated to him, and, for this accidental 
mistake, was dismissed from the presence in 
terms of the severest displeasure. The next 
morning the Emperor sent for his secretary ; 
and when the latter entered the saloon with 
his usual placid and undisturbed countenance, 
the Emperor, with rather an angry look, de- 
manded of him if he had slept the preceding 
night? and, on being informed that he had 
enjoyed his usual hours of comfortable repose, 
this reply was given : — ' then you have been 
more fortunate than me ; so take your pen ;* 



( 69 ) 

and a decree for a very liberal pension to the 
secretary was instantly dictated.'* 

It was wished, also, to counteract a notion 
which was imagined to prevail among us, 
that Napoleon did not possess the active 
spirit of gallantry towards the Ladies, without 
which a Frenchman does not believe that any 
generous, noble, or heroic virtue can exist. — 
Such an opinion, if it prevailed, was consi- 
dered by his zealous champions as a most foul 
and groundless assertion. Among other proofs 
of his more tender nature, it was said, that he 
was sincerely attached to Maria Louisa ; and 
it was added, a fond look from her eye would 
command any thing from his heart. — (Re- 
member, it is a Frenchman who speaks.) At 
the same time it was avowed, that though she 
might possess his more permanent affection, 
her Majesty was known to suspect the pos- 
sibility of his straying into an occasional 
infidelity. 

It is indeed very well known, that the 
English ladies whom he saw from the gang- 



( 70 ) 

way of the Bellerophon, drew from him very 
animated expressions of admiration. Miss 
Brown, a daughter of General Brown, is said 
to have fixed his exclusive attention, while 
she was in a situation to remain an object 
whose features could be distinguished. 

— You may remember, perhaps, that some 
years since, when the Marquis of Wellesley 
was Secretary of State for the Foreign De- 
partment, that Sir George, then Captain 
Cockburn, who commanded the Implacable, 
was particularly chosen to conduct a secret 
enterprize with Baron de Colai, a Pole, to res- 
cue and secure the escape of Ferdinand VJI. 
of Spain, who was at that time confined in 
the Castle of Valen^ay. — I have now the means 
of throwing some light upon that interesting 
transaction, by the communications of those 
who were well acquainted with what I must 
consider as the unfortunate conclusion of it. 

All that could be done by the active, pa- 
tient, and unremitting vigilance of Captain 
Cockburn, to whom so important a part of 



( 71 ) 

this secret design had been entrusted, was 
accomplished ; and it need not be added, 
that the officers under his command, shared 
his persevering- spirit. They, in due time, 
arrived at the spot, where the Baron was to 
enter upon the part assigned him in the bold 
and dangerous stratagem ; and, as an essential 
accompaniment of it, money and jewels were 
artfully concealed in different parts of his 
dress. He hoped to return in about a month, 
and all the necessary signals were arranged 
in order to secure his retreat with his royal 
prize to the ship. Nothing more, however, 
was heard of the Baron ; and the Implacable 
after a long-continued, tedious, and ever- 
watchful cruize, returned to port. 

The enterprizing Pole now became the 
subject of various conjectures. He was suc- 
cessively considered as having betrayed his 
trust, or seized as a spy, and put to death ; 
or that the weak, infatuated Prince, for whose 
deliverance the enterprizing Baron had de- 
voted himself toso much danger, had betrayed 
the plot, and involved his romantic adherent 



( 72 ) 

in the fatal consequence of such a discovery. 
But the mystery of the poor Baron's fate was 
now to be unfolded. The necessary wit- 
nesses for the purpose were in Court : Sa- 
vary, who was minister of the Police of 
Paris, at the time of this secret expedition, 
was in the suite of Napoleon, and could have 
no objection to tell all that he knew of the 
business, while his master was on the spot to 
confirm or correct the statement. There was 
no difficulty, therefore, for Sir George Cock- 
burn, in his present high official character, to 
become acquainted with the finale of the bold 
Baron's adventures ; concerning which, it 
may be presumed, his generous nature felt 
something more than curiosity. 

The Baron, it seems, had arrived in safety 
at the point to which he was destined, but 
Almighty Love appears to have demanded 
his first attentions. A lady, to whom he was 
ardently attached in Paris, was an irresisti- 
ble object of attraction, and to that city he 
bent his first steps : but he had not been two 
hours within its walls before some of Savary's 



( 73 ) 

myrmidons seized the unfortunate and impru- 
dent Pole, stripped off his cloaths, with their 
valuable concealments, and consigned him to 
a prison. So far the stratagem failed of suc- 
cess : but Buonaparte wished to know whe- 
ther the imprisoned monarch was privy to it. 
— A proper person was therefore selected to 
personate the Baron, and with all his false 
passports and rich clothes, introduced himself 
to Ferdinand ; but though the guards were 
purposely withdrawn, to give all possible fa- 
cility for his escape, the imprisoned King dared 
not encounter the danger of the attempt. 

— On our approach to Madeira, the hazy 
state of the atmosphere precluded the possi- 
bility of seeing the Island, until we got close 
between Puerto Santo and the Deserts. The 
latter rocky island is almost perpendicular ; 
and has some slight resemblance to St. Helena. 
This circumstance I mentioned to De las Cas- 
ses, and he instantly communicated it to 
Napoleon, who had quitted the dinner-table 
sooner than usual, and joined a few of us on 
the poop : but the comparison of what he now 



( 74 ) 

saw, with his gloomy notions of the place 
where he was shortly to abide, produced not 
a single word. He gave an energetic shrug, 
and a kind of contemptuous smile ; and that 
was all. — The sloping front and luxuriant 
aspect of the island of Madeira could not but 
excite an unpleasant sensation, when contrast^ 
ed with the idea he had entertained of the 
huge black rock of St. Helena. — I had pre- 
sented Johnson's Work on the Influence of 
Tropical Climates on European Constitutions 
to his perusal. That writer has been very 
lavish of his encomiums on St. Helena ; but 
he acknowledges that he only lay at anchor 
off it for three days ; and its acute reader ridi- 
culed the glowing descriptions which were 
founded on such a transient and imperfect 
view of the place. 

A Sirocco wind had blown for forty-eight 
hours previous to our arrival at the Madeiras, 
and had done considerable damage to the 
vines of the Island. — This circumstance will 
be indubitably attributed by the superstitious 
inhabitants to the malign appearance of 



( 75 ) 

Buonaparte on their coast ; and all the saints 
were probably invoked to hasten our de- 
parture. 

With the fine landscape of the rich and 
fruitful spot before us, I conclude this Letter. 
— My next may, perhaps, inform you of our 
arrival at the barren and rocky scene of St. 
Helena. But, wherever 1 may be, you well 
know, I trust, with what truth, 



I am, &c. &c. 



W.W. 



At Sea, 



MY DEAR- 



OUR great man seldom suffered a 
day to pass without making particular en- 
quiries respecting the health of the crew ; 
and the nature of such diseases as then pre- 
vailed among them, with the particular 
mode of treatment. The complaints then 
prevalent on board the Northumberland re- 
quired a free use of the lancet. We had a 
young, healthy, florid crew, on our quitting* 



( 76 ) 

England, with constitutions liable to be in- 
fluenced with increase of temperature. He 
seemed to entertain a very strong prejudice 
against bleeding, which he called the San- 
grado practice, nor did he fail to treat our 
first conversations on the subject with a de- 
gree of humour and pleasantry, which proved 
that the great events of his life had not driven 
from his recollection the solemn satire of Le 
Sage. He urged the propriety of sparing 
the precious fluid, under an apprehension 
of its deficiency, when, as he conceived, the 
food on board a ship was not sufficiently nu- 
tritious to restore it. A Frenchman, he ex- 
claimed, would never submit to the discipline 
of the Spanish Doctor. And on my observing 
that the French did not eat quite so much beef 
as Englishmen, he peremptorily denied the 
fact ; — " to the full as much," he said, " but 
they cook it differently." — He was, however, 
open to conviction ; and when he had been 
made to understand the general health of our 
fleet, and had witnessed the good effects of 
the practice which he had so forcibly repro- 
bated and ridiculed, he no longer argued 



( 77 ) 

against it ; but always mentioned it with 
some facetious observation. On meeting me, 
he would apply his fingers to the bend of the 
opposite arm, and ask — " well, how many 
have you bled to-day ?" Nor did he fail to 
exclaim, when any of his own people were 
indisposed — " O bleed him, bleed him ! To 
the powerful lancet with him : that's the 

infallible remedy." He had, however, 

seen the good effects on Madame Bertrand. 
That lady Avas attacked with an inflamma- 
tory Fever, when she submitted to lose two 
pounds of blood, as well as to abstain from 
wine and all animal food : but the Sangrado 
system eifected her cure, and confirmed the 
proselytism of her Emperor to the practice. 

Of his own state of health he has good rea- 
son to boast : and when it is considered to 
how many various climates he has exposed 
himself, and what a succession of toil he has 
undergone during the last twenty-five years, 
the excellent health he has enjoyed, and still 
enjoys, is altogether astonishing. — He de- 
clares that he has been but twice, throughout 



( 78 ) 

his life, in sueh a state as to demand medical 
aid. He took a dose of physic for the first 
complaint ; and the second, being a pulmonic 
affection, required a blister. Mr. O'Meara, 
his own surgeon, speaks with admiration of 
his temperament, and says, that his pulse 
never exceeds sixt}-two. His own spontane- 
ous account of himself is, that he is very pas- 
sionate ; but that the violence of his disposi- 
tion soon subsides, not only into tranquillity, 
but into coldness and indifference. — I have 
never heard that, in speaking of his constitu- 
tion and uncommon state of health, he ever 
hinted at the advances of age, or calculated 
the probabilities of his enjoying length of life. 
— He has indeed been known to say, and to 
repeat the opinion, that he ought to have died 
on the day when he entered Moscow ; as he 
then had arrived at the summit of his mili- 
tary glory. It has been even said by some of 
his few surrounding friends, that he should 
himself have determined not to survive it. 

— I must beg leave to return to the subject 
of blood-letting, as a conversation took place 



( 79 ) 

which had escaped me, and is an additional 
proof of his curiosity or anxiety, or perhaps 
both of them, respecting it. — He called me to 
him on the quarter-deck, and asked the follow- 
ing professional questions : — " Can a person, 
labouring under a tropical disease, requiring 
what you call the free use of the lancet, promise 
himself an equal share of health, eighteen 
months after, as he had before the system of 

depletion?" " How long are the vessels 

filling after being partially emptied of blood ; 
and what quantity can the human body lose 
without producing death r" — After reasoning 
for some time on the subject of these questions, 
I surprized him with the account of a very 
extraordinary case then subject to my treat- 
ment. A seaman was put on the sick list ; 

the disease an inflammation of the stomach. 
On the second day the pulse beat 150 in the 
minute, and not an article of food or of me- 
dicine was retained by the stomach for tvvo 
minutes. In the course of three days the pa- 
tient lost fifteen pounds of blood ; when the 
pulse, though still full, was reduced to 87 
beats. Nothing solid remained on his sto- 



( 80 ) 

mach for three months, nevertheless the man 
recovered. This you will say was a case 
in point ; and enough to make any one a 
convert to the application of the lancet. He 
described to me a pulmonic complaint with 
which he was affected on his return from 
Egypt ; and asked me what treatment I should 
have adopted in his case. " Would you have 
done as Covisart did ? he blistered me twice." 
I replied that, most probably, I should have 
bled previous to the application of a blister, 
as in the commencement of pectoral affections, 
they are generally attended with inflammation. 
The conversation afforded me, as I thought, 
rather a fair opportunity of asking him, if his 
sleep was generally sound ; I felt at the time, 
that it was an adventurous c^uestion ; nor would 
it have surprized me, if he had turned away 
without giving me an answer ; but, with a 
look more expressive of sorrow than displea- 
sure, he replied, " No : — from my cradle, I 
have been an indifferent sleeper." 

Adieu, &c. &c. 



( 81 ) 



At Sea, 
MY DEAR -, 

1 shall begin this Letter, by intro- 
ducing a very interesting person to your at- 
tention ; and who, in our various quarter- 
deck conversations, had not been hitherto 
mentioned. It was the Empress Josephine. — 
Her name happening to occur, she became 
the spontaneous subject of very animated 
eulogiums ; when she was representad as pos- 
sessing a sweetness of disposition, an ele- 
gance of manners, and a certain melody of 
voice that irresistibly charmed every one, 
without any exception as to situation or capa- 
city, who were admitted to her presence. — 
The sudden death of this excellent Lady was 
very generally lamented, and is attributed to 
a very extraordinary circumstance, and a very 
exalted personage. I will relate the event 
to you in the words, as far as memory serves, 
in which the Count de las Cases conveyed 
it as an undeniable fact to me. — Josephine, it 
seems, had so far won the admiration and 

G 



. ( 82 ) 

high esteem of the Emperor Alexander, that 
his Imperial Majesty used to dedicate many 
of his leisure hours to the pleasure of her fas- 
cinating conversation. His visits were not 
only frequent but continual during his stay 
at Paris. — Her state of health was but indif- 
ferent, and on some particular occasion, her 
physician had prescribed medicines of a 
nature that required the utmost care and 
precaution, and an absolute confinement to 
her chamber : but, at this time, the Emperor 
paid one of his visits, when her respect for 
him rendered her incautious, and she received 
the Imperial guest in the usual manner, They 
walked, during the time of his stay, in the 
gardens of Mal-Maison ; and the consequence 
of this promenade was fatal : — she was seized 
with a violent inflammation in the lungs, 
which defied all medical assistance, and in a 
few days she was no more. 

— From the same authority I give you an 
account of her marriage with Napolepn, which 
certainly differsasfar as my recollection serves, 
from the credited histories of that :^tent :. it.m 



C 83 )./ 

not, however, for me to attempt a reconcilia- 
tion of opposing narratives ; but to relate, for 
your amusement, what I have heard, and the 
author of my information : it is as follows. — - 

An order which was issued by the CoNf E?f- 
TiON to disarm the citizens, oCc£«sioned thfe in- 
troduction of Buonaparte, then a General, and 
high in military command, to Josephine, tier' 
husband, was said to have suffered eighteen 
months before the circumstance about to be 
mentioned. He'had left a son Eugene Bea«- 
harnois, at this time a most interesting j^outh, 
who took an opportunity to address the Ge- 
neral on the Parade, and solicit his father's 
sword ; which, according to the late order, 
had been removed from his mother's residence. 
Buonaparte, charmed by the request, and the 
animated modesty with which it was made, 
instantly granted it. The mother wi-ote a 
letter the following day to thank the General 
for his kindness to her son. This grateful 
attention produced a visit on his part, and the 
Lady not being at home, she sent a note of > 
apology and particular invitation. Aii inters 
g2 



( 84 ) 

view of course followed: He was instantly 
captivated, and in six weeks they were mar- 
ried. — It has been generally thought, I believe, 
that the second marriage did not obliterate 
his regard for her: and it is here asserted, by 
those who were qualified to form a correct 
opinion of the matter, that he would have 
given more evident proofs of his regard, if 
the jealousy of the second Empress had not 
interposed to prevent them. 

— Having induced you, perhaps, to suppose 
that Napoleon was susceptible of love, I shall 
introduce Madame Bertrand to persuade you, 
that he is not without a capacity for friend- 
ship. — She related, in a very impressive man- 
ner to us, the last interview with Duroc, Duke 
of Frieuli, and his afflicted Sovereign. 

That officer, who, as it will appear, stood 
high in his Master's regard and confidence, 
was struck by a cannon-ball, as he was recon- 
noitring the position for a night encampment 
of the army, and his bowels fell to the ground ; 
when he had the extraordinary resolution to 



( 85 ) 

collect and replace them with his own hands, 
on the spot. In this hopeless state he was 
removed to a neighboiiring cottage, where he 
survived twenty-four hours. — A mortification 
soon took place, and a very offensive smell be- 
gan to issue from his body, which continued to 
increase. After he had been some time in 
this state, the Emperor came to visit and con- 
sole him. The dying man, after expressing 
his acknowledgements to his Master for this 
gracious act of kindness, which he accompa- 
nied with sentiments of the utmost loyalty 
and devotion, recommended his wife and 
daughter to the Imperial protection ; and 
then entreated him to depart, lest the effluvia 
proceeding from him might be attended with 
infection. — She represented Napoleon's grief 
as perfectly romantic, and stated as a fact, 
that he lay, for it is not to be supposed that 
he slept, a whole night on the stone which 
covered the grave of his friend. 

— She also mentioned that he possessed 
an equal attachment to Lasnes, Duke of 
Montebello, who was killed at the battle of 



( 86 ) 

Esliiig, when a similar scene of affliction and 
regard took place.* — That brave officer had 
been oMiged to submit to the amputation of 
one leg just below the knee, and the other 
just above the ancle. Buonaparte and Ber- 
trand visited him in this unhappy condition, 
on the left bank of the Danube. Bertrand was 
endeavouring to console him by comparing his 
situation to that of the brave Caifarelli, when 
he, with a certain eagerness of expression, 
thus interrupted him : — " The attachment of 
CafFarelli to the Emperor was cold, when 
compared with the affection which I feel.'* 

— It was on a Sunday, at the Admiral's 
table, that Buonaparte catechised the Chap- 
lain of the Northumberland in the following 
curious and unexpected manner : though the 
learned Divine is well qualified to have an- 
swered a far more profound enquiry respect- 
ing the Faith which he teaches, and the things 
that belong to it. 

— ^How many Sacraments does the Church 
of England acknowledge ? 



( 87 ) 

Two — Baptism and the Lord's Supper. 

— Does not the Church of England con- 
sider Marriage as a Sacrament ? 

No. 

— What are the Tenets of the Church of 
England ? 

The Tenets of the Church of England are 
Lutheran, or Episcopal Protestant. 

— How often is the Sacrament of the Lord's 
Supper administered ? 

In the churches of the metropolis, and other 
cities and large towns, the Eucharist is ob- 
served monthly ; but in the country churches, 
where the population is not so large, quarterly. 
The Festivals of the Nativity of our Saviour, 
or Christmas Day ; of the Resurrection, or 
Easter Sunday; the Descent of the Holy 
Ghost, or Whit-sunday ; and the Feast of 
St. Michael, are the quarterly observations of 
the Eucharist. 

— Do all the communicants drink out of 
the same cup ? — They do. 
- ' — ^^Is the bread made use of in the Sacra- 
ment corathon b^ead ? 



{ 88 ) 

The bread is of wheat, and the best that 
can be conveniently procured. 

— Supposing that wine could not be pro- 
cured in the Administration of the Sacrament, 
would any other liquid be allowed as its sub- 
stitute ? 

It is not at all probable that a case of this 
kind ever occurred : wine being to be pro- 
cured in every part of the kingdom. 

— Do the bishops frequently preach ? 

Seldom but on extraordinary occasions. 

— Do they wear tlje mitre } 

I believe I may venture to say — never. 
Though I cannot affirm whether the arch- 
bishops do or do not wear the mitre, when 
they crown the King. 

— Have not the bishops a seat in the House 
of Peers ? 

They have. 

— How long is it requisite for persons who 
are candidates for Holy Orders at the Univer- 
sity, to have resided there ? 

Four years : — but previous to their be- 
coming members of the University, they are 



( 89 ) 

generally seven or eight years at a classical 
school. 

— Of how long standing must a person be 
m the University, before the degree of a 
Doctor of Divinity ? 

Nineteen years from the time of his matri- 
culation. 

— Which are the most approved places of 
education for the candidates for Holy Orders? 

The universities of Oxford and Cambridge. 

— Are there many Puritans (meaning Pres- 
byterians) in England ? 

There are a great many. 

— What are the religious tenets of the 
Church of Scotland ? 

The tenets of that Church are Calvinistic. 
They do not allow episcopacy or the govern- 
ment by bishops. They are Presbyterians, 
because they hold the government of priests, 
and presbyters or elders. 

—-To whose custody are the registers of 
baptisms, marriages, and deaths committed ? 

They are generally entrusted to the care 
of the minister ; but it is a more regular pro- 
ceeding to keep them in a strong chest which 



( 90 ) 

remains in the vestry-room of the parish 
church. This chest is guarded by three locks 
of different construction ; so that it cannot, 
or at least ought not, to be opened, without 
the concurrence of three persons — the minis- 
ter, and I he two church-wardens ; who, each 
of them, possess their official and separate 
key. — The idea of keys and locking up, 
might not excite sensations altogether pleas- 
ing to the extraordinary Captive, for here he 
closed his enquiries. 

It may be said that every thing is possible, 
if it should please God ; as was observed, 
according to the story, by a Dutch burgo- 
master, when a man was brought before 
him who was accused of having bit off his own 
nose. But at all events, it may be considered 
as a very striking article of the chapter of im- 
probabilities, in any preceding part of Buona- 
parte's life, that he should ever be found ca- 
techizing the chaplain on board an English 
man of war bound for St. Helena, respecting 
the forms, ceremonies, tenets, &c. of the An- 
glican church. 



( 91 ) 

—The ceremony of crossing the line, a day 
of jubilee to the voyagers of every maritime 
nation, is so well known, that it would be su- 
perfluous to give a minute description of it ; 
though more than usual ceremony w^as dis- 
played on the present occasion : and it must 
be acknowledged that the French party sub- 
mitted with the best grace, that is to say, 
with the most perfect good humour, to the 
novel freedoms of the marine Saturnalia: — 
Nor had the Neptune and Ampbitrite of the 
day any cause of complaint. They were 
seated in a boat filled with water, the throne 
a match-tub, and the sceptre a painter's brush. 
They were surrounded by their Tritons, con- 
sisting of fifty or sixty of the most athletic 
men in the ship, naked to the waist, and 
bedaubed with various colours, each bearing 
a pail of salt water, to drench, more or less, the 
subjects of the briny god. The licence of 
the pastime may be imagined, when Captain 
Ross, who commanded the ship, received 
the contents of one of them with perfect plea- 
santry. 



( 92 ) 

— Bertrand, Montholon, Gourgond, and 
De las Cases, with all the domestics, presented 
themselves to the temporary, but potent 
Neptune, and received, with the necessary 
cheerfulness, their share of his ablutions. 
The two former led their children forward, 
each of them presenting, from their extended 
little hands, a double Napoleon as their offer- 
ing to the presiding deity of the deep. A sea- 
boy sung the song of" The snug little Island," 
some of whose lines were not very compli- 
mentary to the enemies of Great Britain, but 
not an unpleasant look was produced by them. 
The ladies viewed the scene from an elevated 
position, and appeared to be equally amused 
and astonished at the festivities of it. Nep- 
tune was rather disappointed that Napoleon 
did not make his appearance, though he ac- 
knowledged the sovereign dignity by sending 
his tribute. — In short, harmony prevailed to 
the close of this festive medley. 

— You, my dear friend, who have af- 
forded a vigilant attention to every part of 
Napoleon's extraordinary career, and to sa- 



( 93 ) 

tisfy whose prevailing curiosity concerning 
him, I have become a writer of biography, such 
as it may prove ; you, I say, may remember, 
though it does not occur to me, that a rumour 
prevailed after the Treaty of Tilsit, of a 
projected marriage between the Emperor of 
France and a Russian princess. — This cir- 
cumstance seems to be acknowledged here ; 
and it is said, moreover, that the failure of 
this negociation arose from the bigotry of the 
lady's royal mother, who insisted on the esta- 
blishment of a Greek church in the palace of 
the Thuilleries. — I merely state it as a little 
article of our political chit-chat, for your po- 
litical amusement, 

■ — I recur once more to the person of this 
object of your inquisitive spirit, as it leads to 
circumstances (I know they will not be thought 
trifling by you,) which are connected with 
this additional description of it. He has an 
uncommon face ; large, full and pale, but not 
sickly. In conversation, the muscles suffer 
little or no exertion : with the exception of 
those in the immediate vicinity of the mouth, 



( 94 ) 

the whole seemed fixed, and the forehead per- 
fectly smooth. That of a Frenchman is ge- 
nerally wrinkled, from the habitual, muscular 
exertion of the countenance, which we deno* 
minate grimace : but however earnest Napo- 
leon may be in conversation, he discovers no 
distortion of feature. When he wishes to 
enforce a question, he sometimes employs his^ 
hand, but that alone : and were I describing 
a Petit Mditre^ I might attribute the display 
to its uncommon handsomeness:— He some- 
times smiles, but Ibelieve he seldom laughs.-^' 
I have never observed, when laughtei* had' 
prevailed around him, that he has caught 'the' 
pleasant infection. The interesting children 
on board, who amuse every body, do not at- 
tract his attention 4 There is a large, good- 
tempered Newfoundland dog who is a fre- 
quent and rather a rude play-fellow of these 
urchins ; and in a situation where no active 
entertainments are exhibited, the interludes of 
theset performers afford no small degree of 
amusement to those around them. But they '^ 
h^ve never won a smile, that I have observed,^- 
from the Ex-imperial spectator.— —Once, 



( 95 ) 

indeed, when Berlrand was in conversation 
with his Master, the Count's little girl, in- 
truded upon it, with a story which all her fa- 
ther's prohibitions could not silence. On 
this occasion Napoleon took her by the hand, 
heard out her little tale, and at the conclu- 
sion kissed her. But this very uncommon 
attention was probably paid to the child as 
the only mode of getting rid of her, which 
might not have been painful to the feelings 
of the father. 

— You will say, perhaps, when you have 
read a little further, that we are very much 
in want of amusements on board a ship, 
which we certainly know as well as you, and 
that we are pleased with little things ; how- 
ever, as you are the father of children, I will 
tell you something which I think will amuse 
yoM. — Frequent attempts are made on the 
loyalty of the little Bertrands, by courting 

them, in very seducing ways, to say 

Vive le Roi, and Vive Louis dix huit. But 
the two eldest are loyal children, and true, 
and never fail to reply with, Vive L'Empe- 



( 96 ) 

reur,— The youngest of the three was how- 
ever, at length, bribed by irresistible sweet- 
meats, to say Vive Louis dix huit ; for he, 

like other cautious politician?, could not be 
persuaded to go all lengths, and add — Vive le 
Roi, But this daring defection never failed to 
be followed by the reproaches of his uncor- 
ruptible brother and sister. — This charming 
boy is said to bear a strong resemblance to the 
young Napoleon, and has acquired the title 
among us oi John Bull, which he triumphantly 
retains ; and if asked who he is, — appears 
pleased to exclaim — Jean Booll. 

— You have known me long, and have 
been acquainted with my general views in 
life : but who can foresee what he may come 
to ! — and could you suppose that I should ever 
be a teacher of the English language, and to 
the late Grand Marshal of the Palace of the 
Thuilleries ; though I have reason to be proud 
of my scholar for his amiable disposition, 
soldier-like frankness, and cultivated mind. 
He speaks English intelligibly, but with a 
very French accent. This he wished to im- 



( 97 ) 

prove, and I undertook to read with him. 
Such has been my task for an hour or two 
every day during the last fortnight. We have 
got through the Vicar of Wakefield with great 
success ; Roderic Random, the never-failing 
novel of a seaman, now occupies us. The 
sea terms and the seaman's language are ra- 
ther perplexing, as my persevering scholar 
will not suffer a single sentence to pass by 
without the best explanation that I can find. 
The Tour of Doctor Syntax yet remains, and 
will probably last us to St. Helena. 

— As you have desired me to omit nothing, 
however trifling, that relates to, or is authen- 
tically related of, our chief Passenger, I shall 
just mention that Count Bertrand, in the his- 
tory which he gave of the German campaign 
in 1807, took occasion to observe that Buon- 
aparte had very seldom employed spies. — 
He appeared, in the course of his warfare, to 
know but one instance of a person being 
engaged by his master in that capacity, which 
was in Italy ; at the same time he acknow- 
ledged that the services performed by him 

H 



( 98 ) 

were of considerable importance. — In speak- 
ing also of Napoleon's talents, for which he 
uniformly avows the most profound admira- 
tion, he expressed himself to the following 
effect : — " When I was first admitted to the 
Emperor's confidence, he employed me on a 
particular service, and no zeal was wanting, 
on my part, to execute it ; but I found it, as 
I thought, to be impracticable ; and I did 
not hesitate to submit my opinion to him that 
it was so. It may be so to you, he replied, 
but in what manner did you proceed ? I ac- 
cordingly explained the means I had pursued. 
You have failed, he said, in following your 
plans : now see what success you will have in 
pursuing mine. These he explained — I ad- 
hered to them of course, and succeeded. 

1 then determined never again to suppose 
that any commands of his could fail of 
being fulfilled ; and in any future operations 
which he entrusted to me, the idea of im- 
possibility never occurred to my thoughts 
in the performance of my duty, or was forced 
upon me by my experience in the failure 
of it." 



( 99 ) 

—I have observed, that at cards, our extra- 
ordinary man plays rather a negligent game, 
and loses his money with great good humour. 
Nay, he is frequently inaccurate in reckoning 
his points, ^c. ; but as often, most assuredly, 
to his loss as his gain. At chess, indeed, 
which is a scientific game, independent of 
fortune, and considered as being connected 
with a leading branch of military tactics, he 
may not possess, perhaps, the same indiffer- 
ence. However that may be, I shrewdly 
suspect that Montholon, when he plays with 
him, takes care to be the loser.— *I have read, 
though I know not where, that some great 
commander, on being beat at chess by one 
of his oflScers, was so infuriated by the jea- 
lousy of the moment, that he drew forth a 
pistol and dispatched his conqueror. — I won- 
der whether the Aide-de-Camp has ever heard 
this story ! 

— Having crossed the Line, the South- 
West winds occasioned our making a sweep 
off the Gulph of Guinea, before we were en- 
abled to shape a course for our destined port. 
H 2 



( 100 ) 

The declining sun of the 14th of October, 
1815, shot out a parting ray e*er it sunk be- 
neath the horizon. Under this small illumined 
space, was obscurely perceived the lofty Peak 
©f Saint Helena. — The memorable morning 
soon dawned which was to usher in the com- 
mencement of Napoleon^s exile. This new 
feature in his history will be the subject of 
my next Letter. 

&c. &c. &c. 

W. W. 



St. Helena, 



MY DEAR 



THE sensation excited in the little 
interesting Colony of St. Helena, on the ar- 
rival of this extraordinary Guest, may be more 
easily imagined than described. Curiosity, 
astonishment, and interest combined to rouse 
the inhabitants from their habitual tranquil- 
lity, into a state of busy activity and inquisi- 
tive solicitude. 



( 101 ) 

Napoleon did not leave his cabin for a 
full hour after the ship had anchored in the 
bay ; however, when the deck became clear, 
he made his appearance, and ascended the 
poop ladder, from which he could examine 
every gun that bristles at the mouth of James 
Valley, in the centre of which the town of 
that name, and the only one in the Island, 
is situate. — While he stood there, I watched 
his countenance with the most ohservant at- 
tention, and it betrayed no particular sensa- 
tion : He looked as any other man would look 
at a place which he beheld for the first time. 
— I shall also take this opportunity to mention 
that, during- the whole voyage, from the mo- 
ment the Northumberland set sail from Eng- 
land, to its arrival at St. Helena, I never saw 
any change in the placid countenance and un- 
assuming manners of our distinguished ship- 
mate ; nor did I hear of a discontented look, 
or a peevish expression, being remarked by 
any other person in the ship. The Ladies, 
indeed, discovered some distress on the first 
view of their rocky cage; but their general 
conduct on the occasion, displayed a degree 



( 102 ) 

of self-possession which was not expected of 
them. 

The first object of the Admiral was to 
make the necessary arrangements for the ac- 
commodation of Napoleon and his Suite ; 
and the Lieutenant-Governor*s house was 
appropriated for that purpose, till a proper 
place could be prepared for his fixed residence. 
It was not, therefore, till the 17th, that they 
disembarked.-— After sun-set, on that day, 
when the inhabitants of the town, wearied out 
in waiting for the spectacle of Buonaparte's 
landing, had retired to their homes, he, ac- 
cording to the wish he had expressed, passed 
unobserved to the house where he was to 
pass the first night as an inhabitant of St, 
Helena. 

• — At an early hour of the following morn- 
ing, the General was on horseback, accompa- 
nied by Sir George Cockburn. They as- 
cended the mountain to Longwood, which 
was to be the tranquil residence of a man, 
oil an isolated rock in Africa, who had pos- 



( 103 ) , 

sessed gorgeous palaces in so many of the 
splendid cities of Europe. 

About a mile from the town, and midway 
up the mountain, stands the country-house of 
a most respectable man and a merchant of the 
Island, Mr.Balcombe : It is named TheBriars, 
and is situated on a level spot, which might 
almost be imagined to have been formed by 
art in the steep ascent. It occupies about 
two acres, and is bountifully supplied with 
water, by whose irrigating influence a pleas- 
ing and contrasted scene of vegetation, en- 
riched by fruit-trees, has been produced ; and 
seems, as it were, suspended between the 
heights above and the depths below. — Here 
Napoleon, on his descent from Longwood, 
was induced to call ; and such was the hos- 
pitable importuiiiity of the amiable master of 
the mansion, that he relinquished his in- 
tention of returning to the valley, and thereby 
avoided the public gaze that was waiting his 
appearance. 

On an elevated mound, about fifty yards 



( 104 ) 

from the house, is a Gothic building, having* 
one room below, and two small apartments 
above. This Masonette Napoleon chose 
for his residence, till Longivood could be 
completed. There w^as no choice in the ar- 
rangement of this confined abode : the ground- 
floor was, of course, occupied by him, while 
De las Cases, with his son, who was a page, 
and the valet in waiting were to possess the 
upper story, 

A few days after he had fixed his residence 
at the Briars, I called to pay him a compli- 
mentary visit, when I found him reclining 
upon a sofa, apparently incommoded by the 
heat. He had been, he said, amusing himself 
with a walk in the garden ; but that towards 
noon he found it necessary to shelter himself 
from the sun, beneath his little roof. He ap- 
peared to be in very good spirits, and ex- 
pressed himself with great civility to me, as 
well as in his enquiry after the officers of the 
Northumberland. — After some general ques- 
tions respecting the restrictions on visiting 
him, he said, " I find there is a considerable 



( 105 ) 

force on the Island, full as many as the 
produce of the place is capable of maintain- 
ing-. What could induce your government 
to send out the fifty -third regiment? There 
was, surely, a sufficient force before for my 
security ; but this is the way that you Eng- 
lish people get rid of your money/' -To 

this observation I did not hesitate to reply. — 
"When a measure is once resolved upon, you, 
General, will acknowledge it to be the best 
policy to employ all the means that may se- 
cure its being carried into complete effect/' — 
You, my friend, may think, that I hazarded 
his displeasure by my answer ; but the manner 
in which he received it, convinced me that he 
was better pleased with my frankness, than if 
I had hammered out a compliment, in which 
manufactory you well know that I am but an 
unskilful workman. I now took my leave, 
and strolled down with Count Bertrand to 
dinner. 

It was not till some time in November, 
that I paid a second visit to the Briars, whi- 
ther an invitation to dine with Mr. Balcombe 



( 106 ) 

had called me. As I reached the spot some 
time before the dinner-hour, I proposed to 
amuse myself in examining the cultivated 
spots, attached to the domain. I accident- 
ally took the path which leads to the gardens, 
and at the gate where it terminates there is a 
narrow goats' passage, whose sides are lined 
with prickly pear bush. At the angle formed 
by the two paths, I met Napoleon clattering 
down from among the rocks in his heavy mi- 
litary boots. He accosted me with an appa- 
rent mixture of satisfaction and surprise ; and 
reproached me in terms of great civility for 
my long absence. There was a rough deal 
board placed as a seat between two stones, on 
which, after having brushed away the dust 
with his hand, he sat himself down, and de- 
sired me to take my place by him. — Las Cases 
soon joined us,forin scrambling through these 
rocky paths, his Master, badly as he walks, 
had got the start of him. On all sides of the 
spot where we seated, rocks were piled 
on rocks to the height of a thousand feet 
above our heads, while there was an abyss of 
equal depth at our feet. Nature seems in a 



( 107 ) 

sportive mood to have afforded this level space 
for a semi-8erial dwelling ; and while I was 
gazing with some astonishment on the barren 

wonders of tlie scene around me " \1 ell/* 

said Napoleon, with a smile, " what say you 
to it ?— -and can you think that your country- 
men have treated me kindly ?" — I had but one 
answer to such a question ; and that was, by 
not giving any answer at all. — ilis conver- 
sation then turned upon the state and charac- 
ter of the Island, of which, he observed, all 
the books he read respecting it, during the 
voyage, had given a very partial represen- 
tation, unless there were parts of a more pleas- 
ing aspect than any he had seen in his rides 
to Long-wood, which comprehended the ut- 
most extent of his observation. His conver- 
sation was, on this occasion, as on all others 
when I have been with him— easy, good- 
humoured, and familiar, without the least 
taint of his former greatness : and, whenever 
the topic would admit of it, he never failed to 
give an air of cheerfulness to his remarks. On 
my mentioning the activity of the Admiral in 
superintending the repairs at Longwood, and 



( 108 ) 

that it would probably be ready to receive 
him in the course of a month; — He replied, 
your Admiral knows, I doubt not, to a 
moment, in what time a ship may be got 
ready, but as an architect, I think his calcu- 
lations will fail. — I maintained, however, that 
whether it was upon land or sea. Sir George 
Cockburn was of a character that would 
ensure success in whatever he might be call- 
ed upon to undertake. — I added, that the 
officers were actually employed in accompa- 
nying the seamen to Longwood, with the 
materials necessary for its completion. He 
then enquired after those gentlemen whose 
names he endeavoured to recollect ; and ex- 
pressed a wish to see them as they passed ; 
" If," said he, " they will be contented to 
visit me as you now do, in the fields ; as my 
present habitation, which serves me for break- 
fast, dinner, and bed- room, is not precisely 
calculated to receive company." 

# 

The Briars had derived, and will ever 
retain a certain degree of celebrity, from its 
having been the unexpected residence of Na- 



( 109 ) 

poleon ; and this circumstance will, I doubt 
not, bring to your recollection, the various 
instances where remote and obscure situa- 
tions, which never formed the smallest speck 
on a map, have, by accidental events, become 
important points in the geography of the his- 
torian. — Napoleon frequently makes one of 
Mr. Balcombe*s family parties, where he is 
neither troublesome or intrusive, but conducts 
himself with the manners of a gentleman, and 
a lively demeanour that promotes the general 
vivacity of the domestic circle*. — I have not 
heard of any instance of his discontent but on 
the folloAving occasion. — Since he has been 
at the Briars, an officer of Captain's rank is 
constantly in attendance there, and becomes 
answerable for his person. This, I under- 
stand, has occasioned remonstrances to the 
Admiral, who has not thought proper to 
answer them with any relaxation of this duty. 
_ 

* I have since seen, in the English Newspapers, account* 
of his playing at cards for sugar-plumbs, being impe- 
tuous with a child, and engaging in something like mon- 
key tricks ; for which there is not the least foundation of 
any kind. 



( 110 ) 

— Napoleon having complained of the in- 
trusion of visitors, during his stay at the Briars, 
it afforded the Admiral an opportunity of ex- 
ecuting the orders transmitted from England 
with a degree of delicacy, which, whoever 
has the pleasure of knowing him, must be sa- 
tisfied that he would prefer. It was accord- 
ingly ordered, that no one should be per- 
mitted to visit Longuwod, without a passport 
from the Admiral or the Governor. 

On his removal thither, certain limits were 
assigned him for exercise, around which a 
cordon of centinels were stationed . While he 
continues within the circle he experiences no 
additional vigilance ; but when he ventures 
beyond, an officer is on duty to attend him. 
The latter circumstance, which he considers as 
irksome, disposes him to confine himself in a 
great measure to the grounds of his mansion. 

The indisposition of General Gourgond 
occasioned my passing much of my time at 
Longwood. The disease, from its commence- 
ment, had assumed very unfavourable appear- 



( 111 ) 

ances ; and my friend Mr. O'Meara, whom I 
have already introduced to you as the Ex- 
Imperial surgeon, was desirous that we should 
be together during the treatment. 

My first visit, on this occasion, was at- 
tended^^[with some particulars, which, I pre- 
sume, from your rivetted attention to the 
principal character in the scene, you will not 

think unworthy of being related. About 

six in the evening 1 reached Hutsgate, a 
small house on the Longwood Road, about 
a mile from the principal residence, and 
the habitation of Count Bertrand. It con- 
sists of two small apartments below, and the 
same number above : But in this cottage, 
health reigns, the children are charming, and 
care seems to be banished from it. — A volume 
might be filled with all I know of this family. 
Most of my spare hours during the voyage 
were dedicated to reading English with the 
Marshal ; and, in return, he gave an history 
of some of the campaigns in which he had 
served. He would often say, " You are de 
bad master : you will hear all, and speak to 
me none." Napoleon, when enquiring after 



( 112 ) 

me, during our passage, would distinguish 

me by the title of Bertrand's Frieiid. 

Madame insisted upon my dismounting from 
my horse and accompanying her in the car- 
riage to Longwood, as her husband had gone. 
on before. It was now growing dusk, and as 
we approacbed the house, we saw her Em- 
peror, as she always called him, and Ber- 
trand in conversation close to the road-side. 
'• Now,'* said the Lady, " let us surprize 
them : shew yourself at the carriage window 
as we pass ; when they will fancy a gallant, 
and it will remind them of Paris tricks." — 
We passed them at a quick pace ; I obeyed 
my instructions, and, having handed the 
Countess from the carriage, she left me to go 
and explain who the stranger was. — In a few 
minutes I received a message from Napoleon 
himself, with an invitation to dinner. — I very 
readily accepted it, as you may imagine ; 
and was rather pleasingly surprized at it ; as 
he had for some time confined his guests to 
his own suite. I had no means of presenting 
myself but in my riding equipments, and in 
such guise 1 made my entre. — General Mon- 
tholon, in full dress, received me in the anti- 



( 113 ) 

chamber, and introduced me to an adjoining- 
room, where Buonaparte was engaged at 
Chess with the Count Bertrand. He received 
me with the common salutations, very civilly 
expressed, and, on my taking a position be- 
hind his chair, as if to observe the game, he 
continued the contest. — There was little con- 
versation among the party in the room ; and 
that was carried on in a kind of respectful 
whisper, which, as I knew not how to adopt, 
was interrupted at times by the thorough- 
bass of my answers to the questions which 
were addressed to me. 

A very^hort time before dinner was an- 
nounced, General Montholon whispered in my 
ear, that I was to take my seat at table be- 
tween the Emperor and the Grand Marshal. — 
Here are honours for you, and I will give you 
leave to figure your plain, humble, unas- 
suming friend in his elevated station. I can- 
not say that my situation resembled that of 
Sancho Pancha, because every dish was at my 
service ; but a piece of roast beef or a leg of 
mutton with caper sauce, would have afforded 

I 



( 114 ) 

a relief to my appetite which has never been 
familiarised with ragouts and fricassees. — I 
had Napoleon on my right, and the Marshal 
on my left ; and there was a vacant chair, 
that had the air of ceremonious emptiness, as 
a reserved seat for Maria Louisa. A bottle 
of claret and a decanter of water was placed 
by each plate : but there was no drinking to 
each other*at dinner ; and if you did not help 
yourself during the time it lasted, the oppor- 
tunity would be lost, as the wine vanished 
with the eatables. The service of porcelain 
far exceeds in beauty whatever of that kind I 
have beheld. The silver plate is massive, and 
decorated with eagles in curious abundance ; 
the gold service appeared in the desert. — The 
entertainment lasted about an hour, and so 
frequent were the questions of my host, that 
from the perplexity I suffered in conjuring up 
answers to them, I scarce knew what I eat, 

or what I drank. 1 will endeavour to give 

you a general specimen of his convivial en- 
quiries. 

—Have you visited General Gourgond ?— 




l)i-av\?i bvM' HcfM-rnan. fiom i oratuo presented bv the 

EMPEROR NAPOLEON, 

T(i M^'O'Meara. .Iiilv 2.'>, iSaR 



■ 'iijrutfjn,. /ui-' (■'-, J^'/ujs & CJa/i/W. /J'J? 



^i&f 



i 



( 115 ) 

Yes, General, I came to Long wood for that 
purpose. — How Iiave you found him? — Ex- 
tremely ill. — What is his disorder?— Dysen- 
try. — Where is its seat? — In the intestines? — 
What has been the cause? — Heat of climate on 
& constitution peculiarly predisposed ; but re- 
move the cause and the effect will cease. Had 
he been bled in the first instance, it is pro- 
bable that the disease would have been less 
violent. — What remedy is now proposed ? — 
The functions of the liver and other viscera 
are deranged: To restore them, therefore, 
to a healthy action, it will be necessary to 
have recourse to Mercury. — That is a bad me- 
dicine. Experience has taught me the con- 
trary, — Did Hippocrates use it? I believe not: 
He had great faith in simples.— Yet, he is 
considered as among the first physicians.— 
He might, nevertheless, have derived great 
advantages from modern discoveries. — Does 
not Nature endeavour to expel morbific mat- 
ter ; and may not the present painful struggles 
be an effort of Nature to rid herself of what is 
obnoxious? I have been taught to assist 
Nature. — And could not you do so without 
i2 



( 116 ) 

having recourse to this dangerous mineral ? 
Experience has convinced me that Mercury, 
provided it produces salivation, is infallible. 
Then go on with your Mercury. 

— Have you lost many men on board the 
Northumberland? We have had the misfor- 
tune to lose several. — Of what disease? Dy- 
sentry and inflammation of the liver. — Have 
you examined them after death ? — Invariably. 
— What was the appearance? Extensive sup- 
purations of the liver in the one disease, and 
gangrene of the intestines in the other. — 
What is death, or how do you define death? 
A suspension of the vital functions, the organs 
of respiration, and the action of the heart.— 
When does the soul quit the body? That is 
a question I do not presume to answer with 
a precision which would satisfy you : for, in 
cases of suspended animation and in syncope, 
man is to all appearance, dead; yet, by ar- 
tificial means, resuscitation is produced and 
life preserved. — W hen do you suppose that 
the soul enters the body? — I am not suffici- 
ently skilled in metaphysics to give a satisfac- 



( 117 ) 

tory reply. The faculty of thought appears 
to be the dawning of the soul ; aud to what- 
ever perfection reason attains, then the soul is 
most perfect, at least then man becomes the 

most responsible for his actions. Here the 

conversation ended to my great satisfaction, 
as it seemed to be taking a turn too profound 
for my philosophy: you will say, perhaps, 
that part of it was not calculated to whet the 
stomach of any one at dinner but a medical 
man. — I fancy, however, that, to your appetite, 
it will prove a savoury dish. 

Napoleon now rose, and was followed by 
his party into a card-room, when Whist suc- 
ceeded. He appears to be master of the game, 
but plays with a kind of carelessness, and 
good humour, as if he preferred losing his 
money. He stayed half an hour longer this 
evening than was usual with him, and during 
that time, he walked up and down the room, 
continuing hisprevailing habit of asking ques- 
tions. On his taking leave. Las Cases, in his 
good humoured way, said, " Well, this has 
been a day of questions : indeed, I fear it 



( 118 ) 

must be a punishment for you to dine with 
us, it is so like undergoing an examination: 
but you may be assured, that your answers 
afford satisfaction, or you would not be 
troubled with so many questions." 

In a few days after, the arrival of a ship 
from England induced me to take a ride to the 
valley; and, on my return in the evening, 
I was informed, that Napoleon desired to see 
me in General Gourgond's apartment as soon 
as I returned ; and there I found him waiting 
for me. On my entrance, the first question 
related to the progress of the General's dis- 
order: when he suddenly changed the sub- 
ject. — " You have been at the Town ; and is 
the ship just arrived from England — if so, I 
suppose she brings Letters and News-papers. 
— Certainly ; and I have looked over a file of 
the Courier. — Is there no Morning Chronicled 
— I have not yet seen it. The other papers 
which I just had a glimpse of, were The 
Timesj and a provincial Paper. What is 
the news from France? I did but slightly 
glance over the French news.- Be that as 



( 119 ) 

it may, you remember, I suppose, something 
of what you read ; so let me hear it. — —I 
saw some articles respecting you ; but the 
principal part of the French neWs which I 
had the opportunity of examining, related 
to the trial and sentence of Marshal Ney. 

Napoleon now advanced a step nearer to 
me, but without the least change of counte- 
nance : — " What," said he, " Marshal Ney 

has been sentenced to be shot/' 1 replied, 

" It was even so : he addressed the ministers 
of the allied sovereigns, but in vain : he 
urged in his defence, the Twelfth Article of 
the Convention : he pleaded on his trial that 
he was deceived by you : that the proclama- 
tion of which he was accused, and made a 
part of the charges against him, was written 
by Major General Bertrand ; and that he was 
deceived by your report of Austria and Eng- 
land." Count Bertrand, who was in the 

room, quietly observed, that Marshal Ney 
had a right to save himself if he could ; and 
if fabricated stories would answer his purpose, 
he could not be blamed for employing them. 



( 120 ) 

But he added, " respecting the proclamatioo^ 
it was an assertion equally false and ridicu- 
lous : Marshal Ney could write himself, and 
wanted not my assistance."— Napoleon made 
no comments on the account which had been 
given him. — One solitary expression, indeed, 
broke from him, and that was, " Marshal Ney 
was a brave man." 

I mentioned a report, as stated in one of 
the London papers, that an apprehension was 
entertained of an insurrection in Paris, on the 
event of Marshal Ney^s sentence being car- 
ried into execution.' " An insurrection," 

said Napoleon, with a kind of contemptuous 
calmness, " pugh ! get the troops under arms! 
— Has the Duke of Wellington left Paris ? — 

I really do not know. Are the English 

and allied forces still in the vicinity of the 

capital ? The English, I believe, are still 

in its neighbourhood ; but it appears, from 
the papers, that the Russians and Prussians 
have retired upon the Rhine. That disposi- 
tion of them, he replied, is altogether the most 
proper. — ~But how is it, he continued, that 



( 121 ) 

among the papers which are sent for my pe- 
rusal, I so seldom see the Morning Chronicle. 
That was a question, which I did not pretend 
to answer. I thought proper, however, to 
inform him, with some little curiosity to see 
how he would receive the intelligence, trifling 
as it may appear, that, according to the pa- 
pers, a Parisian had been sentenced to pay a 
fine for publishing a caricature in which he 
was represented. He permitted me to de- 
scribe it, which I did in the language of 

the paragraph. " On one side of the print 

appeared the figure of Louis XVII f. sur- 
rounded by his family, with the inscription, 
' This is well ;' and on the other side, that of 
Napoleon attended bj^ his family, with the 

motto, ' This is better. " " Pugh !" said 

he, " what nonsense ! but such trash will be 
propagated, from some idle motive or other ;" 
and with this observation he retired to his 
apartment. 

General Gourgond's disorder assumed a 
very dangerous appearance ; and the symp- 
toms seemed to announce a fatal termination. 



( 122 ) - 

His spirits, indeed, were so sunk, that he re- 
fused to take the only medicine that promised 
the least chanceof relief ; and even though it 
continued to be administered by contrivance, 
and subterfuge, he must have become the 
prey of his melancholy apprehensions, if that 
voice, which he dare not disobey, had not 
urged a sharp, and as it proved, a saving 
remonstrance. " What ridiculous beha- 
viour is this," said Napoleon to him ; " and 
what are these silly fears of your own crea- 
tion, and which you appear to be fond of in- 
dulging, by refusing the means of dissipating 
them — How often have you faced Death in 
the field of battle, without the least sensation 
of fear ; and now you are resolved to yield 
to his power, as if you were afraid to resist 
him. — What a childish obstinacy ! — Play the 
fool no longer, I beg of you, but submit to 
Ihe remedies with cheerfulness, which can 
alone promote your restoration to health." 
This reproach softened the patient's obsti- 
nacy, he became submissive to the regimen 
prescribed, and recovered. Some short time 
after. Napoleon said to me, " Well, you 



( 123 ) 

Doctors have performed wonders with Gour- 
gond : if, however, there had been a Priest on 
the Island, he would have discharged yon 
both, and trusted alone to his treatment : but 
fortunately for him, such a thing as a Confessor 
was not to be found/' 

I am about to vary the scene, but I fol- 
low the track of the distinguished Exile, 
whenever I have the opportunity ; and I now 
call you to attend him among the Arcadians 
of St. Helena. When he takes his exercise on 
horseback, he generally bends his way tlirough 
a deep ravine, luxuriantly covered with vege- 
tation and used for pasture. The road is 
narrow, the place lonely ; and he, in a sen- 
timental or poetical moment, had named it 
*' The Valley of Silence.'' On ascending this 
contracted pass, the eye is greeted, and on the 
first occasion, might probably be surprised, by 
the residence of a Farmer. Here the confined 
Tourist, on his first excursion, determined to 
snatch a probableamusement, by paying avisit. 
Fortunately for him, the family were taken by 
surprise ; for the apprehension of such a guest 



( 124 ) 

would have emptied the house of its inhabit- 
ants. Master Legg", the tenant of the man- 
sion, a plain honest countryman, met him at 
the do r, when the extraordinary visitor, on 
the invitation which he received, dismounted 
from his horse, and accompanied by the Count 
De las Cases, entered the house, familiarly took 
his seat, and, as usual, began his interrogatories. 

Have you a wife ? Yes, and please you, 
Sir Emperor. — Have you any children.^ Six. 
— How much land have you got } A hundred 
acres. — All capable of being cultivated? No, 
not one half. — What profit does it bring you? 
Not a great deal : but it is much improved 
since you, Mr. Emperor, came amongst us. — 
Aye, how do you make that out ? Why, you 
must know. Sir Emperor, we do not grow 
corn in this here Island ; and our green vege- 
tables require a ready market. We have ge- 
nerally had to wait for the arrival of a fleet ; 
and then, rat'em, they would sometimes 
all spoil : but now. Sir General, we have a 
prime sale for every article. — Where is your 
wife? Dang it, and please you, I believe 



( 125 ) 

she is scared ; for I see my children have all 
run out. — Send for them, and let me be in- 
troduced. Pray have you any good water? 
Yes, Sir ; and wine too, such as is to be had 
from the Cape. 

The good woman's alarm had by this 
time subsided ; and she was persuaded by 
her husband to make her appearance, and 
entered with every mark of respect, and some 
astonishment. Napoleon, De las Cases, the 
Farmer and his wife, forming ?Lpartie quarree, 
for your philosophic and profound contempla- 
tion, sat down to four glasses of Cape wine ; 
and, when they were emptied, the visit con- 
cluded. 

The good man and his family had been 
placed so much at their ease by the courteous 
demeanour of their unexpected guests, that the 
subsequent visits laid them under no restraint ; 
and even the little children used frequently 
to express their wishes by inquiring of their 
mother, " When will Boney come and see 
us again ?" — 



( 126 ) 

But there is another Farmer, whose name 
is Robinson, who, like his neighbour Legg, 
occupies his acres of garden ground, which 
are divided into enclosures by fences of earth 
enlivened by the aloe and the prickly pear. 
Here, as in the former humble habitation, the 
honest simplicity of rural life appears in all 
its native colours : but there is a flower of no 
common beauty that adorns the spot ; a very- 
pretty girl of about seventeen, the daughter 
of the owners of it. She is what we should 
call in Scotland, " a very bonny Lassie." — 
AVhether it was the primitive sincerity and 
innocent manners of these honest people, or 
the native charms of the rustic nymph, or the 
picture of contentment that they presented to 
their visitor, which attracted him, I shall not 
pretend to determine ; but his visits became so 
frequent, that the relations of these good 
people in the town, recommended precaution 
respecting their daughter, who was then for- 
bidden to make her appearance whenever the 
great man favoured the farm with his visits : 
this circumstance he soon observed, and ac- 
cordingly ceased to continue them. 



( 127 ) 

I shall not wait for any additional occur- 
rences, which are uncertain, with a view to 
lengthen my Letter. If any further infor- 
mation occurs, it may form the subject of 
another Epistle. I therefore seize the present 
opportunity of assuring you, that 

I am, &c. &c. 

W. W. 



St. Helena, 



MY DEAR , 



I began to think that my last Letter 
would have concluded the little History which 
I have compiled from the living documents 
around me, for the amusement and gratifica- 
tion of your anxious curiosity. If it has 
answered that purpose, I shall be satisfied ; 
and I am happy to continue my disjointed 
narrative, with some unexpected notices that 
may be equally interesting, as far as the term 
can be applied to those which have preceded 
them. 



( 128 ) 

It is near six weeks since I have visited 
Longwood, or have had any communication 
with the inhabitants of it. Chance, however, 
conducted me to a party where I met De las 
Cases : after some general conversation on 
the arrival of the new Governor, he informed 
me that his Master had made frequent en- 
quiries after me ; and had even expressed his 
surprize at my absence. " We have not 
seen you,'' he added, " since your resuscitation 
of General Gourgond ; and I cannot but feel 
curious to know, whether your acting as a 
stranger, arises from any disinclination on 
your part, or a particular prohibition from 
the Admiral ?" — I replied, " neither the one 
or the other : but, at the same time, I thought 
it became me to attend to the general orders, 
and 1 could not justify myself in requesting 
a passport to Longwood without having some 
ostensible reason." — "But 1 wish, very much," 
he answered, " to consult you about the 
health of my son."---" That reason is suffi- 
cient ; I will immediately apply to the Admi- 
ral, who is now in the room, and have no 
doubt of his ready acquiescence." I was ac- 



( 129 ) 

cording'ly engaged to breakfast with Napo- 
leon on the following morning at eleven 
o'clock. The violent rains, however, disap- 
pointed me ; but 1 took the earliest opportu- 
nity of fulfilling my promise. The breakfast 
hour was passed when I reached Longwood, 
and its Master had been invited by the sere- 
nity of the day, to take an earlier walk in 
the garden than was his general custom. I 
presume that he had observed me as 1 
approached the house, while he was screened 
from me by an intervening hedge. As I had 
exceeded the breakfast hour, after which he 
generally retires to the solitude of his apart- 
ment, I did not expect to see him ; and to 
say the truth, unless there had been £i pros- 
pect of obtaining some novelty, my dear 
friend, for your entertainment, 1 should rather 
have felt a relief in the idea that I was not to 
be exposed to one of his rapid examinations. 
— I soon, however, met the Count De las 
Cases, who, presuming that the great Man 
had retired for the day, proposed my accom- 
panying him to his apartment, where, he said, 
after you have seen my son, we will take a 



( 130 ) 

few peeps into our History, which I know 
will interest you, as the Work itself will 
interest the whole world, if we have perseve- 
rance to get through with it. 

I do not recollect whether, in any of my 
former Letters I mentioned, from the autho- 
rity of this gentleman^ who is the Emanuensis 
of the Historian, that Buonaparte was seri- 
ously and laboriously engaged in writing the 
Annals of his Life. I had already been in- 
formed by the same person, that the Cam- 
paigns of Egypt and Italy, and what he styles 
My Reign of an hundred Days, or some such 
title, were completed*; and that the interme- 
diate periods were in a progressive state. I 
therefore was lookingforward to a very curious 
morning, and hugging mjself on the approach- 
ing view of such manuscripts as were to be 
unfolded to me : but this expectation was dis* 
appointed by a message from Napoleon to 
attend him in his room. As I knew that my 

* This Work includes the interval, or some portion of 
it, between the abdication of Fontainbleau and that of 
Paris. 



( 131 ) 

visit would not be one of mere ceremony, I 
prevailed upon my companion to accompany 
me, as his interpretations are always given 
with such aptitude and perspicuity, and be- 
sides, afford me time to arrange my answers. 
There was some little finesse employed in 
making this arrangement, as the forms of the 
Court at Longwood are most respectfully ob- 
served by the attendants on it. 

On entering the room I observed the back 
of a sofa turned towards me ; and on advancing 
I saw Napoleon laying at full length on it, 
with his left-arm hanging over the upper part. 
The glare of light was excluded by a Vene- 
tian blind, and before him there was a table 
covered with books. I could distinguish 
among them some fine bound volumes on the 
French Revolution. The heat of the day had 
occasioned him to dismantle himself of coat and 
waistcoat. — The moment his eye met mine, he 
started up, and exclaimed, in English, in a 
tone of good-humoured vivacity, " Ah, Warden 
how do you do ?" I bowed in return ; when 
he stretched out his hand, saying, " I have got 
e2 



( 132 ) 

a feveT." I immediately applied my hand to 
the wrist, and observing, both from tlie regu- 
larity of the pulsation and the jocular expres- 
sion of his countenance, that he was ex- 
ercising a little of his pleasantry, I expressed 
my wish that his health might always remain 
the same. He then gave me a gentle tap on 
the cheek, with the back of his hand ; and 
desired me to go into the middle of the room 
as he had something to say to me. I now 
congratulated him on the preservation of his 
health, and complimented him at the same 
time, on the progress he appeared to have 
made in the English language. " I certainly 
enjoy," he said, " a very good state of health, 
which I attribute to a rigorous observance of 
regimen. My appetite is such that I feel as 
if I could eat at any time of the day: but I am 
regular in my meals; and always leave off 
eating with an appetite : besides, I never, as 
you know, drink strong wines. — With respect 
to the English language," he continued, " I 
have been very diligent: I now read your News- 
papers with ease ; and must own, that they 
afford me no inconsiderable amusement. They 



( 133 ) 

are, occasionall}^, inconsistent, and sometimes 
abusive. — In one paper I am called a Lear, in 
another a Tyrant, in a third a Monster, and, 
in one of them, which I really did not expect, 
I am described as a Coward; but it turned 
out, after all, that the writer did not accuse 
me of avoiding danger in the field of battle, or 
flying from an enemy, or fearing to look at 
the menaces of fate and fortune ; it did not 
charge me with wanting presence of mind in 
the hurry of battle, and in the suspense of con- 
flicting armies. — No such thing ; I wanted 
courage it seems, because I did not coolly 
take a dose of poison, or throw myself into 
the sea, or blow out my brains. — The Editor, 
most certainly misunderstands me ; I have, at 
least, too much courage for that. — Your 
papers are influenced by party principles: 
what one praises the other will abuse ; and 
so vice versa. They who live in the metro- 
polis where they are published, can judge 
of passing events and transactions for them- 
selves ; but persons living at a distance from 
the capital, and particularly foreigners, must 
be at a loss to determine upon the real state of 



( 134 ) 

things, and the characters of public men, from 
the perusal of your Journals." 

Napoleon appearing as it were, to be speak- 
ing out, and in a humour to deliver opinions, 
instead of confining himself to asking ques- 
tions, I was determined to speak out too ; 
and I had no doubt that I should lead him 
into an interesting conversation, or induce 
him to wish me a good day. 

I accordingly replied, " I really think that 
you must possess more patience than toy coun- 
trymen are disposed to allow you, if you really 
wade through all the columns that have been 
filled on your subiect. You cannot. General, 
suppose for a moment, that the extraordinary 
events which have taken place, and of which 
you have formed such a prominent part, 
would not be considered and observed upon 
with great freedom by a thinking people like 
the English, and who have the privilege, 
and may they ever possess it, of speaking and 
writing what they think." I was proceeding 
in full swing and in a very patriotic way, when 
he thus interrupted me. " This calling of 



( 135 ) 

names, and these scolding epithets, only serve 
to amuse me ; but there are observations in 
your papers, which produce far different sen- 
sations. You have :" he continued, " a writer 
whom I greatly admire ; I believe he is of 
your country, a Scotchman — Macpherson, the 
author of Ossian . There is also a person of the 
name of Belsham : on what subjects has he 
written ? — I replied, " that I believed he had 
written an account of the reign of our ex- 
cellent Sovereign." — " Yes,'* he said, "your 
Laws permit you to writeof kings, of ministers, 

of measures, and of one another." " Yes," 

I replied, " such is the privilege of English- 
men ; and, possessing the infirmities of human 
nature, they may sometimes abuse it. Mis- 
conception, party spirit, and perhaps factious 
minds, may, at times, tend to propagate and 
support erroneous, and even violent opinions; 
but the love of justice and of truth, forms the 
genuine character of an Englishman." 



" Nevertheless," he observed, " you appear 
to handle my character rather roughly : and 
more so, since I have been in your power." 
" To that opinion, General,^' i answered 



( 136 ) 

rather quickly, " I must beg leave to address 
a direct negative. — You have not always had 
the leisure to examine English publications 
which you enjoy at present, but I do assure 
you, that from the time of your becoming 
First Consul of France, to the moment when 
you set your foot on the deck of the Bellero- 
phon, the English press has never ceased to 
fulminate its displeasure against you ; and 
this without exception, for the parties who 
differed in every thing besides, expressed but 
one and the same opinion of you. This, I 
presume, you must have known at the time, 
though the vast projects that have occupied 
your mind, may have prevented your memory 
from retaining a detail of our literary offences : 
your official papers, however, marked their 
perfect acquaintance with the hostility of 
our journals, and returned their paragraphic 
missiles in every direction. You were rather 
angry with Old England, when you ordered 
the Moniteur to call us a ' Nation of Shop- 
keepers :' — A great commercial nation we 
certainly are, and may we ever remain so: 
for it is that commerce which has proved a 



( 137 ) 

fountain of resources, whose failure would 
have prevented even the native and irre- 
sistible bravery of Englishmen from making 
the late immortal additions to our national 
glory. But we are also a most noble-minded, 
magnanimous and generous people ; and were 
never known to insult a conquered enemy ; 
nay, how often has it happened that both our 
sailors and our soldiers have risqued their lives 
to save a fallen foe. Even when you had 
thrown away one of the brightest diadems in 
Europe, and had accepted a slender Sceptre in 
Elba, you were instantly treated with compa- 
rative mildness by the more prevailing public 
opinions in England. And now, that you are, 
as you chuse to term it, in our power, a general 
feeling of a generous nature is known to be ex- 
cited : Yes, Sir, there are numbers who would 
have rejoiced to hear that you had bit the 
ground on the field of battle, who are now dis- 
posed to wish you every comfort that can be 
safely allowed in your present situation. — If 
the Northumberland had overtaken you in a 
French man-of-war, endeavouring to make 
your medi tated escape to America, every officer, 



( 138 ) 

and every sailor and soldier would have been 
bravely engaged in the attempt to take, burn, 
sink, or destroy the ship that bore you ; yet, 
as you have readily acknowledged, you 
were treated by them, during the whole of 
the voyage, with every gentle, manly, and 
polite attention. And, if I may venture to 
speak of myself, I shall beg leave to add, that 
I was bred up in the hatred of you : nay, that 
no proofs of Holy Writ were more strongly 
imprinted in my mind, than the truth of the 
then universally prevailing opinions concern- 
ing you ; nevertheless, I am ready to shew 
you every personal courtesy, to be thankful 
for the civilities 1 have received from you, 
and to offer you such service as I am per- 
mitted by the benevolence of the Government 
which I serve, and may be consistent with 
those regulations which its political wisdom 
has thought necessary to provide, for the safe- 
guard and ultimate security of your person." 

I was resolved to speak my sentiments with 
freedom, and you may now think my good 
friend, that I did not balk my resolution. I 



( 139 ) 

could not, indeed, forbear to defend the ge- 
nerous temper of Englishmen, when it received 
such an attack. My candid sentiments and 
unreserved language appeared, however, to 
meet my auditor's approbation, and he asked 
me, to my great surprise, if I remembered the 
history of Captain Wright.-- — I answered, 
" Perfectly well ; and it is a prevailing opi- 
nion in England, that you ordered him to be 
murdered in the Temple/' — With the utmost 
rapidity of speech, he replied, " For what ob- 
ject ? Of all men he was the person whom I 
should have most desired to live. Whence 
could I have procured so valuable an evidence 
as he would have proved on the trial of the 
conspirators in and about Paris. The Heads 
of it he himself had landed on the French 
coast." My curiosity was at this moment such 
as to be betrayed in my looks. — " Listen,'* con- 
tinued Napoleon, " and you shall hear. The 
English brig of war, commanded by Captain 
Wright, was employed by your government 
in landing traitors and spies on the West 
coast of France. Seventy of the number had 
actually reached Paris; and, so mysterious 



( 140 ) 

were their proceedings, so veiled in impene- 
trable concealment, that although General 
Ryal, of the Police, gave me this information, 
the name or place of their resort could not be 
discovered. I received daily assurances that 
my life would be attempted, and though 1 did 
not give entire credit to them, I took every 
precaution for my preservation. The Brig 
was afterwards taken near L'Orient, with 
Captain Wright, its commander, who was 
carried before the Prefect of the Department 
of Morbeau, at Vannes: General Julian, 
then Prefect, had accompanied me in the 
expedition to Egjpt, and recognised Captain 
Wright on the first view of him. Intelligence 
of this circumstance was instantly trans- 
mitted to Paris ; and instructions were ex- 
peditiously returned to interrogate the crew, 
separately, and transfer their testimonies to 
the Minister of Police. The purport of their 
examination was at first very unsatisfactory ; 
but, at length, on the examination of one of 
the crew, some light was thrown on the sub- 
ject. He stated that the Brig had landed 
several Frenchmen, and among them he parti- 



( 141 ) 

cularly remembered one, a very merry fellow, 
who was called Pichegru. Thus a clue was 
found that led to the discovery of a plot, 
which, had it succeeded, would have thrown 
the French nation, a second time, into a state 
of revolution. — Captain Wright was accord- 
ingly conveyed to Paris, and confined in the 
Temple ; there to remain till it was found con- 
venient to bring the formidable accessaries of 
this treasonable design to trial. The law of 
France would have subjected Wright to the 
punishment of death : but he was of minor con- 
sideration. My grand object was to secure 
the principals, and I considered the English 
Captain's evidence ofthe utmost consequence 
towards completing my object." — He again 
and again, most solemnly asserted, that Captain 
W right died in the Temple, by his own hand, 
as described in the Moniteur, and at a much 
earlier period than has been generally believed. 
— At the same time, he stated, that his asser- 
tion was founded on documents which he had 
since examined. The cause of this enquiry 
arose from the visit, I think, he said, of Lord 
Ebrington to Elba, and he added, " That 



( 142 ) 

nobleman appeared to be perfectly satisfied 
with the account which was given him of this 
mysterious business. 

I was so far encouraged by the easy, com- 
municative manner of the Ex-emperor, that I 
continued my observations without reserve : 
I, therefore, did not hesitate to express my 
doubts respecting the time that Capt. Wright 
remained in the Temple previous to his death. 
To satisfy me in this particular. Napoleon 
turned over a long succession of pages in a late 
publication of Mr. Goldsmith's, which had 
been brought him by Sir Hudson Lowe. I do 
not recollect the title, which is probably fami- 
liar to you, who have suffered nothing that 
relates to the government of France to have 
escaped you, but I could perceive, that it 
consisted of Extracts from the Moniteur, Sfc. 
during the Imperial reign. — As he referred to 
the index he frequently pointed out the name 
of Wright, spelled Right, and with a con- 
fident expectation, as it certainly appeared to 
me, of finding some document that would 
confirm his account. The Author, however, 



( 143 ) 

either had not been able to discover any written 
testimony, to mark the precise time of Captain 
Wrighfs death, or had intentionally withheld 
it ; and the latter Buonaparte repeatedly and 
firmly insisted must have been the cause of 
any doubt remaining as to the truth of his 
assertion. 

As he turned over the leaves of this volume, 
he acknowledged that many of the reports 
were genuine, but with frequent inaccuracies 
and mistatements ; and if my memory is cor- 
rect, he particularised that which was given 
of the battle of Marengo. But he did not 
stop here ; and continually desired to know 
whether I perfectly comprehended his mean- 
ing, as that was his most earnest wish. And 
now, to my utter astonishment, he entered upon 
the event of the Duke D'Enghien's death. 
This was a topic that could not be expected ; 
and particularly by me, as there appeared 
even among his followers, who were always 
on tip-toe to be his apologists, an evasive 
silence or contradictory statements, when- 
ever this afflicting event became the subject 



( 144 ) 

of enquiry, which had occasionally happened, 
during the course of our voyage. Here Na- 
poleon became very animated, and often raised 
himself on the sofa where he had hitherto re- 
mained in a reclining posture. The interest 
attached to the subject, and the energy of 
his delivery^ combined to impress the tenor 
of his narrative so strongly on my mind, that 
you need not doubt the accuracy of this re- 
petition of it. He began as follows : — 

" At this eventful period of my life, I had 
*' succeeded in restoring order and tranquillity 
" to a kingdom torn asunder by faction, and 
" deluged in blood. That nation had placed me 
" at their head. I came not as your Cromwell 
*' did, or your Third Richard. No such thing. 
" — I found a crown in the kennel ; I cleansed 
" it from its filth, and placed it on my head. 
*' My safety now became necessary, to pre- 
" serve that tranquillity so recently restored ; 
" and, hitherto, so satisfactorily preserved, as 
" the leading characters of the nation well 
" know. At the same time, reports were every 
" night brought me** (I think, he said, by 
General Ryal,) " that conspiracies were in 



( 145 ) 

' agitation ; that meetings were held in par- 
' ticular houses in Paris, and names even 
' were mentioned ; at the same time, no sa- 
' tisfactory proofs could be obtained, and the 
' utmost vigilance and ceaseless pursuit of 
' the Police was evaded. General Moreau, 
' indeed, became suspected, and I was seri- 
' ously importuned to issue an order for his 
' arrest ; but his character was such, his name 
stood so high, and the estimation of him so 
great in the public mind, that, as it ap- 
peared to me, he had nothing to gain, and 
every thing to lose, by becoming a conspi- 
rator against me: I, therefore, could not but 
exonerate him from such a suspicion. — I 
accordingly refused an order for the pro- 
posed arrest, by the following intimation to 
the Minister of Police. ' You have named 
Pichegru, Georges, and Moreau : convince 
me that the former is in Paris, and I will 
immediately cause the latter to be arrested.* 
— Anotherand a very singular circumstance 
led to the developement of the plot. One 
night, as I lay agitated and wakeful, I rose 
from my bed, and examined the list of sus- 

L 



( 146 ) 

'' pected traitors ; and Chance, which rule* 
*' the world, occasioned my stumbling, as it 
" were, on the name of a surgeon, who had 
" lately returned from an English prison. This 
*' man's age, education, and experience in 
" life, induced me to believe, that his conduct 
" must be attributed to any other motive than 
" that of youthful fanaticism in favour of a 
" Bourbon : as far as circumstances qualified 
" me to judge, money appeared to be his 
" object. — I accordingly gave orders for this 
" man to be arrested ; when a summary mock 
" trial was instituted, by which he was found 
" guilty, sentenced to die, and informed he had 
" but six hours to live. This stratagem had 
" the desired effect : he was terrified into con- 
" fession. It was now known that Pichegru 
" had a brother, a monastic Priest, then re- 
" siding in Paris. I ordered a party of Gens 
'* d'Armes to visit this man, and if he had 
" quitted his house, I conceived there would 
" be good ground for suspicion. The old 
" Monk was secured, and, in the act of his 
" arrest, his fears betrayed what I most wanted 
" to know. — ' Is it,* he exclaimed, ' because 



( 147 ) 

*' I afforded shelter to a brother that I am 

" thus treated/ The object of the plot was 

" to destroy me ; and the success of it would, 

*' of course, have been my destruction. It 

" emanated from the capital of your country, 

" with the Count d'Artois at the head of it. To 

" the West he sent the Duke de Berri, and to 

" the East the Duke D'Enghein. To France 

" your vessels conveyed underlings of the 

" plot, and Moreau became a convert to the 

" cause. The moment was big v. ith evil : I 

" felt myself on a tottering eminence, and, I 

" resolved to hurl the thunder back upon the 

" Bourbons even in the metropolis of the 

" British empire. My Minister vehemently 

" urged the seizure of the Duke though in a 

" neutral territory. But I still hesitated, and 

" Prince Benevento brought the order twice, 

" and urged the measure with all his powers 

" of persuasion: It was not, however, till I was 

" fully convinced of its necessity, that I sanc- 

*' tioned it by my signature. The matter could 

" be easily arranged between me and the Duke 

" of Baden. Why, indeed, should I suffer a 

" man residing on the verv confines of mv 
L 2 ' 



( 148 ) 

" kingdom, to commit a crime which, withia 
" the distance of a mile, by the ordinary 
" course of law, Justice herself would con- 
*' demn to the scaffold. And now answer 
" me ; — Did I do more than adopt the prin- 
" ciple of your government, when it ordered 
" the capture of the Danish fleet, which was 
" thought to threaten mischief to your coun- 
" try ? It had been urged to me again and 
" again, as a sound political opinion, that the 
" new dynasty could not be secure, while the 
" Bourbons remained. Talleyrand never de- 
" viated from this principle : it was a fixed, 
" michangeable article in his political creed. 
" — But I did not become a ready or a wil- 
" ling convert. I examined the opinion with 
" care and with caution : and the result was 
'' a perfect conviction of its necessity. — The 
" Duke D'Enghein was accessary to the Con- 
" federacy ; and although the resident of a 
" neutral territory, the urgency of the case, in 
" which my safety and the public tranquillity, 
" to use no stronger expression, were involved, 
" justified the proceeding. I accordingly or- 
*' dered him to be seized and tried: He was 







9M^ 



' .v^^^. 








t/^'- lie £naropan iWa^*^''^ jT" 



Qt'if^ ^y ^&^ 



Z^«&« -Tvil^i i„ JJspam 3Z CorrJdU ifjtp ."2314'. 



( 149 ) 

" found guilty, and sentenced to be shot.— 
" The sentence was immediately executed ; 
" and the same fate would have followed had 
" it been Louis the Eighteenth. For I again 
" declare that I found it necessary to roll the 
" thunder back on the metropolis of England, 
*' as from thence, with the Count d'Artois at 
" at their head, did the assasins assail me. 

*' Your country also accuses me of the 

" death of Pichegru" 1 replied, "It is 

" most certainly and universally believed 
" throughout the whole British empire, that 
" he was strangled in prison by your orders." 
He rapidly answered, " What idle, disen- 
*' genuous folly ! a fine proof, how prejudice 
*' can destroy the boasted reasoning faculties 
" of Englishmen ! Why, I ask you, should 
" that life be taken away in secret which the 
" laws consigned to the hands of a public 
" executioner. The matter would have been 
" different with respect to Moreau. Had he 
" died in a dungeon, there might have been 
" grounds to justify the suspicion that he had 
*' not been guilty of suicide. He was a very 



( 150 ) 

" popular character, as well as much be- 
" loved by the army ; and I should never 
" have lost the odium, however guiltless I 
*' might have been, if the justice of his death, 
" supposing his life to have been forfeited 
" by the laws, had not been made apparent 
" by the most public execution." 

Here he paused; and I replied. — " There 
'' may, perhaps, be persons in England, who 
" are disposed to acknowledge the necessity of 
" rigorous measures at this important period 
" of your history; but none, I believe, are to be 
" found who would attempt to justify the pre- 
" cipitate manner in which the young Prince 
" was seized, tried, sentenced, and shot." — 
He instantly answered, " I was justified in 
" my own mind ; and I repeat the declaration 
" which I have already made, that I would 
" have ordered the execution of Louis the 
" Eighteenth. At the same time, 1 solemnly 
" affirm, that no message or letter from the 
" Duke reached me after sentence of death 
" had been passed upon him." 

Talleyrand, however, was said to be in 



( 151 ) 

possession of a Letter from the Royal Prisoner, 
addressed to Napoleon, which they who are 
well qualified to know, declared he took upon 
himself not to deliver, till it was too late to be 
of any service to the writer. J saw a copy of 
this Letter in possession of Count de las Cases, 
which he calmly represented to me as one of 
the mass of documents, formed or collected to 
authenticate and justify certain mysterious 
parts of the history which he was occasionally 
employed in writing', under the dictation of 
the hero of it. Do not startle — the Letter was 
to beg his Life ; and to this effect. — It stated 
his opinion that the Bourbon dynasty was ter- 
minated. That was the settled opinion of 
his mind, and he was about to prove the sin- 
cerity of it. He now considered France no 
otherwise than as his country, which he loved 
with the most patriotic ardor, but merely as 
a private citizen. The crown was no longer 
in his view : it was now beyond the possibility 
of recovery : it would not, it could not be re- 
stored. He therefore requested to be allowed 
to live and devote his life and services to 
France, merely as a native of it. He was readj 



( 152 ) 

to take any command or any rank in the French 
army, to become a brave and loyal Soldier, 
subject to the will and orders of the Govern- 
ment, in whose hands soever it might be, to 
which he was ready to swear fealty ; and that, 
if his life were spared, he would devote it with 
the utmost courage and fidelity to support 
France against all its enemies. Such was the 
Letter which, as it was represented to me, 
Talleyrand took care not to deliver till the 
hand that wrote it was unnerved by death. 

— Napoleon continued to speak of the 
Bourbon Family—" Had I,'' he said, " been 
" anxious to get any, or all the Bourbons into 
" my possession, I could have accomplished 
" the object. Your Smugglers offered me a 
" Bourbon for a stated sum (I think he named 
40,000 francs)but, on coming to a more precise 
" explanation, they entertained a doubt of ful- 
" filling the engagement as it was originally 
" proposed. They would not undertake to 
" possess themselves of any of the Bourbon 
" family absolutely alive : though, with the 
" alternative, alive or dead, they had no doubt 



( 153 ) 

*' of completing it. — But it was not my wish 
" merely to deprive them of life. Besides, 
" circumstances had taken a turn which then 
" fixed me without fear of change or chance 
" on the throne I possessed. — I felt my se- 
*' curity, and left the Bourbons undisturbed . — 
" Wanton, useless murder, whatever has been 
" said and thought of me in England, has 
" never been my practice : to what end or 
" purpose could I have indulged the horrible 
" propensity. — When Sir George Rumbold 
" and Mr. Drake, who had been carrying on 
" a correspondence with conspirators in Paris, 
*' were seized, they were not murdered.*'* 

Here he ceased to speak ; and as I was 
determined to gratify my curiosity as far as 
his present communicative spirit would allow, 
I was determined to continue the conversation.. 
— I accordingly observed, " that of all the 
undertakings which composed his wonderful 

* In looking over these Letters, for the press, I felt a 
doubt whether this observation respecting Sir George Rum- 
bold was made at this time, or at some other ; or whether it 
proceeded from Buonaparte, or Count de las Cases : but 
I am positive that it was made by one or the other. 



^ ( 154 ) 

career, no circumstance had excited such 
astonishment in England, as his expedition to 
Russia, before he had brought the Peninsular 
war to a termination, which, at that time, ap- 
peared to be an attainable object." I paused, 
expecting a reply on the subject . — however, 
he gave none ; but, as if he had not heard my 
observation, proceeded to a renewal, in some 
degree, of the former topics. 

" Your country," he said, " has accused 
' me of having murdered the sick and wound- 
' ed of my army at Jaffa. Be assured that 
' if I had committed such a horrid act, my 
' very soldiers themselves would have exe- 
' crated me ; and I might have looked to 
' their ceasing to obey me. There is no oc- 
' currence of life to which I gave more pub- 
' licity than this. You have an officer, a Sir 
' Robert Wilson, who has written very co- 
' piously on the subject of my campaign in 
' Egypt." As he repeated the last sentence, 
he assumed an air and tone of sarcastic jocu- 
larity ; and then asked me, if I had read Sir 
Robert's publication. I replied in the affir- 



( 155 ) 

mative : — " It is possible," he said, " that he 
Avrote from the testimonj^ of other people 
equally prone to error as himself: he camiot 
pretend to have done it from his own observa- 
tion. — Can you tell me," continued Napoleon, 
*' whether Sir Sydney Smith, in any official 
communications to your government, attempt- 
ed, in any way, to corroborate the testimony 
of Sir Robert Wilson." I could not, at the 
moment, sufficiently recollect the purport of 
his dispatches, to determine the point, but 1 
replied, as I felt, " That he had not." This 
reply however, indecisive as it was, appeared 
to affijrd him considerable satisfaction, as he 

instantly repeated " 1 believe so : for Sir 

Sydney Smith is a brave and just man." — I 
here observed that " There are many in Eng- 
land who imagine your jealousy and hatred of 
Sir Sydney Smith influenced your conduct 
towards Captain Wright." — He smiled with 

astonishment at such an idea the thought 

of coupling the two names appeared never to 
have entered his imagination. " Ridiculous ! 
nonsense !" was his reply. He then entered 
on the following narrative. 



( 156 ) 

" On raising the siege of St. Jeande Acre, 
the army retired upon Jaffa. It had become 
a matter of urgent necessity. The occupation 
of this town for any length of time was totally 
impracticable, from the force that Jezza Pacha 
was enabled to bring forward. The sick and 
wounded were numerous ; and their removal 
was my first consideration. Carriages, the 
most convenient that could be formed, were 
appropriated to the purpose. Some of them 
were sent by water to Damietta, and the rest 
were accommodated, in the best possible 
manner, to accompany their comrades in their 
march through the Desart. Seven men, how- 
ever, occupied a quarantine hospital, who 
were infected with the plague ; whose report 
was made me by the chief of the medical 
staff; (I think it was Degenette). He further 
added, that the disease had gained such a 
stage of malignancy, there was not the least 
probability of their continuing alive beyond 
forty-eight hours." — I here exclaimed in a 
dubious tone, the word — seven? and imme- 
diately asked whether I was to understand 
that there were no more than seven- — ^" I 



( 157 ) 

perceive," he replied, " that you have heard 
a different account." — " Most assuredly, Ge- 
neral : Sir Robert Wilson states fifty -seven or 
seventy-seven ; and speaking more collec- 
tively — your whole sick and wounded." He 

then proceeded " The Turks were nu- 

" naerous and powerful, and their cruelty 

" proverbial throughout the army. Their 

" practice of mutilating and barbarously treat- 

*' ing their Christian prisoners, in particular, 

*' was well known among my troops, and had 

*' a preservative influence on my mind and 

*' conduct ; and I do affirm, that there were 

" only seven men whom circumstances com- 

" pelled me to leave as short-lived sufferers 

" at Jaff*a. They were in that stage of the 

" disease which rendered their removal ut- 

" terly impracticable, exclusive of the disse- 

" mination of the disease among the healthy 

" troops. Situated as I was, I could not place 

" them under the protection of the English ; 

*' I, therefore, desired to see the senior medical 

" officer, and observing to him, that the af- 

" flictions of their disease would be cruelly 

" aggravated by the conduct of the Turks to- 

" wards them ; and that it was impossible to 



( 158 ) 

*' continue in possession of the 7^own, I de» 
'' sired him to give me his best advice on the 
" occasion. I said, tell me what is to be done ! 
" He hesitated for some time, and then re- 
*' peated, that these men, who were the ob- 
"jectsofmy very painful solicitude, could 
*' not survive forty-eight hours. — I accord- 
" ingly suggested, (what appeared to be his 
" opinion, though he might not chuse to 
" declare it, but wait with the trembling hope 
" to receive it from me ;) the propriety, be- 
" cause I felt it would be humanity, to shorten 
" the sufferings of these sevc7i men by admi- 
" nistering Opium. Such a relief, I added, 
" in a similar occasion, I should anxiously 
" solicit for myself. — But, rather contrary to 
" my expectation, the proposition was op- 
" posed, and consequently abandoned. I 
" therefore halted the army one day longer 
*' than I intended ; and, on my quitting Jaffa, 
" left a strong rear-guard, who continued in 
" that city till the third day. At the expiration 
" of that period, an officer's report reached 

" me, that the men were dead." " Then 

General," I could not resist exclaiming, "no 
Opium was given," The emphatic answer I 



( 159 ) 

received was — " No : none !— A report was 
" brought me that the men died before the 
" rear-guard had evacuated the city." 

I again interrupted him by mentioning that 
Sir Sydney Smith, when he afterwards entered 
Jaffa, found one or two Frenchmen ahve.— 
*' Well," he answered, " that, after all, may 
be possible !" — It was, I think, at this period 
of the conversation, that he stated his being in 
possession of a Letter from Sir Sydney Smith, 
written in very complimentary language, 
which expressed the writer's astonishment, as 
well as praise, on the accommodations which 
were contrived and executed to transport the 
French sick and wounded from Acre to JaiFa, 
and thence across the Desart. 

I here took occasion to observe, " that a 
late English traveller, a distinguished scholar 
and learned professor of the University of 
Cambridge, had excited a very general doubt 
respecting the accuracy of this particular part 
of Sir Robert Wilson's narrative. Dr. Clark, 
the person to whom I alluded, had" I said, 
" travelled through Turkey, and as I believed, 
by the route of Aleppo and Damascus to Je- 



( 160 ) 

rusalem, and from thence to Jaffa, where he 
remained some time. This gentleman, whose 
character stands high in the world, may be 
said to contradict the testimony of his coun- 
tryman Sir Robert, respecting the charge 
which the former may be said to have brought 
forward against you . Though he merely states 
that he never heard of the cruel transaction; 
but very naturally observes, that if such an 
extraordinary event had occurred as the mur- 
der of such a number of Frenchmen by their 
own General, s©me traces or recollection of so 
horrid an event, and of such recent occur- 
rence, must have transpired and been com- 
municated to him during his residence there/* 
A question instantaneously followed. — " Has 
this traveller said any thing of El Arish !" — 
My memory did not serve me sufficiently to 
give an answer. " Well," he continued, 
" you shall also hear the particulars of El 
Arish and the garrison of Jaffa. You have 
read without doubt, of my having ordered the 
Turks to be shot at Jaffa." " Yes, indeed/' 
I replied, " I have often heard of that mas- 
sacre in England : it was a general topic at 
the time, and treated as a British mind never 
fails to consider subjects of thatdescription." — 



( 161 ) 

He then proceeded. " At the period in 

*' question, General Desaix was left in Upper 
" Egypt ; and Kleber in the vicinity of Da- 
" mietta. I left Cairo and traversed the Ara- 
" bian Desart, in order to unite my force with 
" that of the latter at El Arish. The town 
" was attacked, and a capitulation succeeded. 
" Many of the prisoners were found, on exa- 
" mination, to be natives of the Mountains, 
" and inhabitants of Mount-Tabor, but chiefly 
" from Nazareth. They were immediately re- 
" leased, on their engaging to return quietly 
" to their homes, children, and wives : at the 
" same time, they were recommended to ac- 
" quaint their countrymen, the Napolese, that 
" the French were no longer their enemies, 
" unless they were found in arms assisting the 
*' Pacha. When this ceremony was concluded, 
*' the army proceeded on its march towards 
** Jaffa. Gaza surrendered on the route. — 
" That city, on the first view of it, bore a for- 
" midable appearance, and the garrison was 
*' considerable. It was summoned to sur- 
*' render : when the officer, who bore my flag 
*' of truce, no sooner passed the city wall, 

M 



( 162 ) 

" than his head was inhumanly struck off, 
" instantly fixed upon a pole, and insultingly 
" exposed to the view of the French army. 
" At the sight of this horrid and unexpected 
" object, the indignation of the soldiers knew 
*' no bounds : they were perfectly infuriated; 
" and, with the most eager impatience, de- 
" manded to be led on to the storm. I did 
" not hesitate, under such circumstances, to 
" command it. The attack was dreadful ; 
" and the carnage exceeded any action I had 
" then witnessed. We carried the place, and 
" it required all my efforts and influence to 
" restrain the fury of the enraged soldiers. At 
" length, I succeeded, and night closed the 
" sanguinary scene. At the dawn of the fol- 
" lowing morning, a report was brought me, 
*' that five hundred men, chiefly Napolese, 
" who had lately formed a part of the garrison 
" of El Arish, and to whom I had a few 
*' days before given liberty, on condition that 
" they should return to their homes, were 
" actually found and recognised amongst the 
" prisoners. On this fact being indubitably 
" ascertained, I ordered the five hundred men 



( 163 ) 

" to be drawn out and instantly shot/* 

In the course of our conversation, his anxiety 
appeared to be extreme, that I should be 
satisfied of the truth of every part of his nar- 
rative, and he continually interrupted it, by 
asking me if 1 perfectly comprehended him. 
He was, however, Patience itself, when I 
made any observations expressive of doubts 
I had previously entertained respecting any 
part of the subjects agitated between us, or 
any unfavourable opinion entertained or pro- 
pagated in England. Whenever I appeared 
embarrassed for an answer, he gave me time 
to reflect : and I could not but lament that 
I had not made myself better acquainted witll 
the events of the period under consideration, 
as it might have drawn him into a more en- 
larged history of them. 

He now returned to the subject of Sir 
Robert Wilson, and asked me if I knew any 
thing of his military character, and ihe ten- 
dency of his writings ; and if the latter had 
added to his fortune. — I replied, that I could 
not speak upon either, from my own know- 
M 2 



( 164 ) 

ledge ; but I was induced to suppose from 
the services in which he had been engaged, 
he must have stood high in the opinion of 
those who employed him ; and I had also un- 
derstood that his works were considered as 
having been very honourable to him both as 
a writer and a soldier. — " Fray can you tell 
me," he continued, " from what motive this 
officer has acted in the escape of La Valette, 
the decided and avowed friend of the man 
whom he has so wantonly calumniated ? — 
I was here, as it may be supposed, rather em- 
barrassed for an immediate reply, but he gave 
me full time to collect myself; and I answered, 
" That I had no doubt they were such as did 
honour to his heart ; whatever imputation 
may have been passed upon his judgment 
and his discretion. Somewhat of an adven- 
turous and romantic spirit might have go- 
verned him : but it never was imagined by 
any one, that he was influenced by sordid or 
pecuniary motives : that idea never seems 
to have occurred, when the transaction was 
the subject of universal consideration and 
enquiry. There was not, I thought, a per- 



( 165 ) 

son in England who received him or his 
companions, with a diminution of their regard 
for the part they had taken in this mysterious 
business.*' In an instant he observed, " I 

* believe every word you have said, at the 
' same time you may be assured, that money 

* would not have been wanting" to save La 
' Valette. — I desire you also to give your 
' particular attention to my opinion, which 

* is a decided one. That this act of Sir 
' Robert Wilson, for the preservation of La 
' Valette, is the commencement of his recant- 
' ation of what he has written against me*/' — 

It is a coincidence, perhaps, not worth men- 
tioning, but is a singular circumstance, that 
we had a son of Sir Robert Wilson, at this 
time a midshipman on board the Northum- 
berland. 

* La Valette, I believe, was a great favourite of his late 
Emperor; and I well know, that every one of the suite ex- 
pressed the greatest joy at his escape, I remember hearing 
General Bertrand say, that during the whole time La 
Valette was in the Post-Office, not a single instance of un- 
necessary rigour was known to have taken place; nor was 
the peace of a private family ever disturbed in the slightest 
degree. 



( 166 ) 

My curiosity now grew bold, and I was 
determined to try whether I could induce Na- 
poleon to satisfy me as to the particulars of a 
conversation between him and Mr. Fox, rela- 
tive to the infernal machine, which I had 
heard related by the honourable Mr. Bennet, 
who took passage with Lord W. Stuart, in 
the Lavinia, from Lisbon to England, in the 
year J 807. 

I prefaced my enquiry by observing, that 
an account had been published, and was very 
generally believed in England, stating a con- 
versation between him and Mr. Charles Fox, 
at St. Cloud : that to myself it was very inter- 
esting ; and as I heard it related by a gentle- 
man of rank, talent and high character, I had 
entertained no doubt of the general fact as he 
stated it. Napoleon, in a most good-humoured 
way, said, " Repeat it — I shall remember." 
1 then proceeded. 

" The account, General, is as follows. — As 
you were one evening going to the Theatre, 
you encountered great danger of your life 



( 167 ) 

by the explosion of a machine, to which 
the title of infernal was afterwards applied. 
This engine of destruction was said to have 
been placed in a narrow street through which 
you were to pass. The rashness of your 
coachman, it is said, saved your life: for 
finding a vehicle placed in such a manner as 
would have presented an insurmountable dif- 
ficulty to a less timid driver, he gave speed 
to his horses, and the wheel of your carriage 
coming in contact with the machine, overset 
it with great violence, and immediately after 
you had passed, the explosion took place." 
" That,'* he replied, " is true: your informa- 
tion is correct." " And it is also said, that you 
went to the Theatre, and enjoyed the play as if 
nothing had happened." He now nodded, or 
rather made a slight obeisance. " And it is 
also asserted, that in a conversation you had 
with Mr. Fox, at St. Cloud, on the subject, 
you accused the English of having invented 
the machine for your destruction." — " That 
is the fact," he said, " I certainly did." "And 
that you particularly alluded to Mr. V/ind- 
ham." "Yes, Mr.Vandam** — ^" Itisalso said, 



( 168 ) 

General, that Mr. Fox contended it was not 
of English invention, for that the crime of as- 
sassination was repugnant to the national 
character. He also particularly defended Mr. 
Windham, who, he said, though they had dif- 
fered in politics, he knew to he an honourable 
man, and incapable as a British Minister, of 
sanctioning such a dishonorable transaction." 
Napoleon remembered the conversation, and 
acknowledged that he accused Mr. Windham. 
I now ventured to ask him if he continued of 
the same opinion. " Yes," he said, " the 
English Ministry were instrumental to the 
plot. Their money has gone for that and 
other extraordinary purposes." My English 
blood was a little up on the occasion ; and my 
reply, depend upon it, was to the following 
effect. — " My nation detests an assassin more 
than it does a coward: indeed he is the worst 
of cowards ; and I do not believe, that there 
is a British heart which does not revolt at the 
thought, and subscribe with an honest and 
glowing sincerity, to the opinion of Mr. Fox." 
— He gave me no answer, but I could per- 
ceive that he was not convinced : and he still 



( 169 ) 

retains his original belief in the contrivance 
of the Infernal Machine. 

1 now discontinued the subject, and ap- 
proached the chimney-piece to examine a 
small bust in marble, which appeared to me 
to be exquisitely sculptured. When he saw 
my attention to it, he exclaimed, " that is my 
son." Indeed the resemblance to the father 
is so very striking, that it is discernible at 
the first glanre. On one side is a miniature 
also of young Napoleon, and a highly-finished 
portrait of his mother, Maria Louisa, on the 
other. 

He now complained of a pain in the great- 
toe of his right foot ; described the sensation 
he felt, and asked if it betokened the gout. — 
I requested to know if he could trace the dis- 
ease of gout to any hereditary transmission. 
" No," he replied, neither of his parents ever 
had the gout ; but, recollecting himself, he 
added, " that his uncle. Cardinal Fesch, had 
been very much afflicted by it," 

I remarked, that even when the disease 



( 170 ) 

was known to be hereditary in families, atten- 
tion in early years, to exercise and diet, often 
retarded its approach, and, when it came at 
length, would render the disease more mild. 

I observed to him, that,- considering the 
active life he led, it did not appear that he 
took sufficient exercise to preserve himself in 
a right state of health. He replied, " my 
" rides, indeed, are too confined ; but the 
" being accompanied by an officer is so very 
" disagreeable to me, that I must be content 
*' to suffer the consequences of abridging 
*' them. However, I feel no inconvenience 
" from the want of exercise. Man can ac- 
" custom himself to privations. — At one 
" period of my life I was many hours on 
" horseback every day, for six years ; and I 
" was once eighteen months without passing 
" from the house." 

He now returned to the grievance of being 
watched by an officer. " You are acquainted/' 
he said, " with the Island of St. Helena, and 
" must be sensible that a sentinel, placed on 



( 171 ) 

" either of these hills, can command the sight 
*' of me from the moment I quit this house, till 
" I return to it. If an officer or soldier placed 
" on that height will not satisfy your Governor, 
" why not place ten, twenty, a troop of dra- 
" goons. Let them never lose sight of me, 
" only keep an officer from my side.^* 

Believe me, my good Friend, I do not 
grudge the pains this Letter has cost me, that 
1 might be clear in my recollections and 
accurate in my report. — I know the pleasure 
it will afford you, and that reflection repays 
me. Future circumstances can alone deter- 
mine, whether you will receive another St. 
Helena Letter from 

&c. &c. &c. 

W. W. 



St. Helena, 
MY DEAR 

The arrival of a Fleet at the Island 
from India, and which will aflbrd the means 



( 172 ) 

of conveying my last Letter, has already 
enabled me to begin another. This circum- 
stance crowded the little Town with passen- 
gers, who were all, as usual, eager to see 
Buonaparte. The Countess of Loudon dis- 
embarked from this Fleet ; and, during her 
stay at St. Helena, was accommodated at 
Plantation-House, the residence of the Go- 
vernor. In compliment to this Lady, a dinner 
of ceremony was given on the following day, 
by Sir Hudson Lowe ; and an invitation was 
dispatched through General Bertrand to 
General Buonaparte, so arranged in point 
of politeness and etiquette, as to justify an 
expectation that it would be accepted. This, 
however, happened to be the first invitation 
which he had received ; and some remarks 
passed, that it had rather the appearance of a 
wish to gratify the Countess, than an act of 
particular civility to the person to whom 
it was addressed. 1 know that it was re- 
ceived in this light at Longwood. Count 
Bertrand delivered the Governor's card, which 
was read and returned without a word of 
observation. *' Sire," said Marshal Ber- 



( 173 ) 

trand, " What answer is it your Majesty's 
pleasure that I should return ?" " Say, the 
Emperor gave no answer." 

I passed a considerable part of the after- 
noon of that day in Napoleon's apartment : 
and, as usual, was employed in answering, to 
the best of my information, such as it is, the 
various questions which he thought proper to 
ask me. His enquiries were particularly di- 
rected to the nature, circumstances, and state 
of the fleet which had just arrived : Our trade 
to India, and the numerous English which 
appeared to be constantly passing to and fro, 
between India and Europe. In the course of 
this conversation I happened to mention the 
hope entertained by the strangers in the town 
of being gratified by the sight of him as he 
passed to the Plantation-House, to dine with 
theGovernor. This littlepiece of information 
proved to be fort mal a propos, as it produced 
the only symptom of petulance I had wit- 
nessed in my various communications with 
the Ex-emperor ; and it was displayed in tone, 
look, and gesture, in his very brief but hasty 



( 174 ) 

feply. — " What, g-o to dinner, perhaps, with 

a file of soldiers to guard me !"- In a few 

minutes, however, he resumed his usual cool 
manner, and continued the subject. — " After 
all," he said, " they could not, I think, ex- 
pect me to accept the invitation. The dis- 
tance is considerable, and fhe hour unsea- 
sonable ; and I have almost relinquished the 
idea of exceeding my chain, accompanied as 
I must be by an officer." 

The Countess of Loudon left the Island 
without seeing the Ex-emperor, and is said to 
have acknowledged her disappointment on the 
occasion ; and if I may venture an opinion, 
but remember it is altogether my own, I think 
the regret is mutual. 

He asked me some days after, if I had seen 
the Countess. I answered in the affirmative ; 
and added, that she had honoured the North- 
umberland with a visit, and, as it was usual 
with all visitors to the ship, she was shewn the 
cabin which he had occupied during the pas- 
sage. I thought also, it would amuse him to 



( 175 ) 

be informed that curious strangers generally 
chose to indulge their fancy by sitting down 
in his chair. " And did the Countess," he 
said, " do the chair that honour ?" Unfortu- 
nately I could not speak with certainty on 
that item of his enquiry ; not having been in 
the cabin at the time. He seemed, however, 
to enjoy the whim of sitting in his chair ; and 
continued his questions. " Would it, do you 
^ suppose, have appeared indecorous to the 
' people of England, if the Countess of Lou- 
' don, had visited Longwood ! Could it have 
' been thought incorrect in any degree, if the 
' Lady, in company with Madame Bertrand, 
' had paid me a visit in this garden ? Many 
' Ladies, on their return to England, have 
' been introduced to me in that manner. Had 
' the Countess of Loudon expressed herself 
' fatigued by the voyage, or had been indis- 
' posed from any other cause, 1 should have 
' been pleased to wait on her." — I could only 
say, in return, " that I was a countryman of 
' her Ladyship, and if, by any chance, I 
* should have the honour of possessing the 
' opportunity, I would certainly intrude my- 



( 176 ) 

" self so far upon her attention, as to in- 
" form her of your polite disposition to- 
" wards her." 

He now dashed at once on a subject so 
totally different from any thing you can ex- 
pect, that I would give your sagacity its full 
play for the rest of your life, nor fear your 
stumbling upon it. It was, as usual, in the 
form of a question, and your impatience will, 
in a moment, be satisfied. 

*' Have you," he exclaimed, " any know- 
" ledge of Physiognomy ?"— " Not from 
" study." — " Have you read Lavater ?" — " I 
" have read some extracts from his works, and 
" that is all I know of them." — " Can you 
" judge whether a man possesses talents from 
" observing the features of his face ?" — " All I 
" can say, General, is this : that I know when 
" a face is pleasing or displeasing to me." — 
" Ah," he replied in an instant, " there it is — 
*' you have found it out. — Have you observed 
" Sir Hudson Lowe's face ?" — " Yes, I have." 
— '* And what does it promise ;"-— " If I am 



( 177 ) 

" to speak the truth, I like Lady Lowe's much 
*' better." — He now laughed, and I was think- 
ing how to get rid of the subject, which had 
a tendency to be an awkwai'd one, as it might 
be addressed to me. He, however, gave me 
no time, and proceeded to draw comparisons 
between his late and his present guardian ; 
but in a vein of pleasantry, as it appeared, and 
with such a rapid succession of ideas, that I 
did not, by any means, comprehend his ex- 
pressions, or the objects of them. 

I happened to be at Longwood, when 
Mr. Raffles, the late Governor of Java, and 
his suite, obtained permission to visit the 
grounds at Longwood. The anxiety of that 
gentleman to see Buonaparte was extreme ; 
his curiosity was a perfect rage, and the ut- 
most was done to accomplish its gratification. 
In short, though indisposition might have been 
pleaded, an hour was appointed by the Ex- 
emperor to receive the Ex-governor ; and the 
latter had not words to express his delight at 
the manner in which he had been received, 

N 



( 178 ) 

In a short time after Mr. Raffles had taken 
leave, I received a message from Napoleon to 
join liim in the garden. On my arrival there 
I found him surrounded by his whole suite, 
Mesdames and Messieurs, with the carriage 
drawn up, saddle-horses by it, and all ready 
for immediate departure. My appearance, 
however, disarranged their intention : For, 
instead of stepping into the carriage, the 
principal person of the scene turned round, 
as if to address me. I bowed, removed 
my hat from my head, and instantly replaced 
it : while the Marshals, Counts, and Generals, 
stood with their hats under their arms. That 
circumstance did not altogether disturb me ; 
though my gallantry was somewhat embar- 
rassed on account of the Ladies, whose petti- 
coats were blowing about them from a smart, 
and rather unmannerly breeze. — — " Do you 
know,'* he said, " this Governor of Java?" 
— " I know no more of him than from the in- 
troduction of to-day."' — " Do you know any 
thing of that Island?" — ^" What I know of it 
is merely from the information of others."-— 



( 179 ) 

*' The Dutch have represented it as a pestilen- 
tial climate ; but I believe that a more fa- 
vourable opinion is now entertained of it." — 
" I believe so : at least we have not found it 
so bad as, from previous accounts, we had 
reason to expect." — " Have you ever seen a 
case of the plague?" — " Never." — " Do you 
know the disease?" — " My only knowledge of 
it proceeds from what I have read." — " The 
army of Egypt suiFered much by it ; and I 
had some difficulty in supporting the spirits 
of many of those who remained free from it. 
Yet for two years I contrived to keep my 
soldiers ignorant of what I myself knew. The 
disease can only be communicated through 
the organs of respiration." — I replied, "that 
I had understood actual contact would con- 
vey it." — " No :" he said, " I visited the hos- 
pital constantly, and touched the bodies of the 
sick to give confidence to their attendants ; 
being convinced by observation, that the dis- 
ease could only be communicated by the 
lungs. At the same time I always took the 
precaution of visiting after a meal and a few 
glasses of wine ; placing myself on the side 
n2 



( 180 ) 

of the infected person from which the wind 
blew/' — We must have been at least twenty 
minutes in conversation, with the suite in all 
the formality of attendance, when 1 thought 
it proper to make some show of retiring ; but 
he would not take the hint, for a considerable 
time. At length he made a slight bow, and 
led Madame Bertrand to the carriage : he 
followed ; and I stood to see them drive off: 
observing, however, that there was a vacant 
seat in the carriage, he hailed me to come 
and take a ride with them : I, of course, ac- 
cepted the invitation ; and 1 declare, if it had 
been a party in a jaunting car to a country- 
fair in Ireland, there would not have been 
more mirth, ease, and affability. 

The carriage drove off at a pretty round 
pace, and the pleasantry of Napoleon seemed 
to keep pace with it. He began to talk Eng- 
lish ; and having thrown his arm Jialf round 
Madame Bertrand's neck, he exclaimed, ad- 
dressing himself to me, " This is my Mistress ! 
O not Mistress — yes, yes, this is my Mistress!" 
while the Lady was endeavouring to extri- 



( 181 ) 

cate herself, and the Count her husband burst- 
ing- with laughter. He then asked if he had 
made a mistake, and being informed of the 
English interpretation of the word, he cried 
out " O, no, no — 1 say, My friend, my love ; 
No, not love ; my friend, my friend.*^ The fact 
was, that Madara«p Bertrand had been indis- 
posed for several days, and he wished to rally 
her spirits, as well as to give an unreserved 
ease to the conversation. In short, to use a 
well-known English phrase — He was the life 
of the party. 

The circuitous windings of the ride at 
Longwood may extend to jfive or six miles ; 
and in our progress, with a half comic, half 
serious countenance, he asked this very unex- 
pected question: — " hi the course of your 
practice, and on your conscience, how many 
patients have you killed ?" — It is not unlikely 
that 1 looked a little surprised ; but I calmly 
answered, " My conscience does not accuse 
me of having caused the death of any one." 
He laughed, and continued, " I imagine that 
physicians may mistake diseases : that they 



( 182 ) 

may sometimes do too much, at other times 
too little, After you have treated a case that 
has terminated fatally, have you not reflected 
with yourself, and said — well, if I had not bled, 
or vice versa, if I had bled, this man, he would 
have recovered, or if he had not consulted a 
physician at all, he might have been now 

alive." -I made no reply, and he continued 

his questions. — 

" Which do you think are the best sur- 
geons, the French or the English ?" — " The 
English undoubtedly." — " But wherefore ?'* — 
*' Because our schools are better. There is 
more system in our education ; and the exa- 
mination is such as to establish the fitness of 
any candidate for the profession before he is 
regularly admitted into it." — " But in point 
of practice will you not allow that the French 
surgeons have the advantage of you ?" — " In 
practice, General, the French are empirics, 
though they do not vend nostrums like our 
quacks in England. They are, in fact, more 
guided by experience than theory. But you. 
Sir, have enabled by brethren in the English 



( 183 ) 

army to be tolerable proficients in field prac- 
tice/' Napoleon smiled at my reply, and 
immediately proceeded to a question, which, 
though it is not altogether disconnected 
with the former subject, I did not expect. 
It was this. " Who is your first physi- 
cian in London ?" — " That is an enquiry 
which I did not expect, and cannot take 
upon myself to answer ; there are so many 
physicians of eminence there, that it would be 
hazardous to mention a favourite name." — 
" But have you no particular person in the 

profession who takes the lead ?'* " No, 

indeed ; there are, it is true, fashionable phy- 
sicians, who have their run for a season or 
two, or even three ; but I could not give 
the preference to one, without doing in- 
justice to fifty. I could, I think, more parti 

cularly distinguish eminent surgeons." 

" What is the general fee ?" " That frequently 
depends on the rank and fortune of the 
patient." — " What is the highest that you 
have ever known ?" — " I really cannot give a 
precise answer to that question : no particular 
sum in that way at present occurs to me. 



( 184 ) 

Handsome fortunes are sometimes acquired 
by practice in a few years ; but that falls to 
the lot of but few, whom particular circum- 
stances, and distinguished patronage, as well 
as professional skill, have raised into great 
celebrity." — " When Corvesart attended my 
wife, the Empress Maria Louisa, on the birth 
of my son, he was ordered three thousand 
Napoleons. I wished^ at one time, that the 
Empress should be bled, according to your 
practice, but Corvesart refused : She was in a 
very full habit. You are much employed 
on shore, are you not, as w ell as on board 
of ships ?" — I am sometimes asked to visit 
the patients of my friends." — " Do they pay 
you well?" — " I never yet accepted of a fee. 
While I serve, I am satisfied with my pay." — 
*' What does your King allow you ?" — " Two 
hundred and twenty pounds a year." — " You 
have been all your life at sea, have you not?" 
" I have, indeed ; and during a space of near 
twenty years." — " Does your King provide 
for you afterwards?" — " Yes, Sir, he does. 
At the expiration of six years service, he 
allows me, provided I am no longer in employ. 



( 185 ) 

six shillings a day : but that sum is not in- 
creased for any subsequent service, until I have 
completed thirty years." — " That I think, is not 
an adequate remuneration/' — " I think so too, 
General ; however, I have no right to com- 
plain, because I knew the conditions before I 
engaged ; and, in England, we are never 

obliged to do so against our inclinations." 

" Is it not very expensive living in the Island 
of St. Helena?" — " Very much so : a stranger 
cannot board under thirty shillings a day." — 
" How, then do you contrive to live ?" — " At 
present by the hospitality of a very kind and 
generous friend ; and, occasionallj , 1 have 
recourse to the fare of the Northumberland." 
He continued his questions, and I my replies, 
as you will perceive. " The army must be 
an enormous expense to your government, is 

it not ?" " Not more, I trust, than it can 

maintain. It is, I fancy, greater than the 
navy." " But from what cause?" — " The ex- 
pense of the army is oftentimes, and indeed 
necessarily increased, I conceive, from its 
local situation." — " And why not the navy ?" 
" The latter is merely stationary, and the 



( 186 ) 

former more or less permanent." — " Is not 
England more attached to its Navy than its 
Army ?" — " The Navy is certainly considered 
as its more natural, essential and effectual 
defence ; but the Army will sometimes raise 
its head very high, and be regarded with a 
rival favour when it is crowned, as it so often 
is, with laurels : such a field as that of W ater- 
loo can hardly find adequate gratitude in the 
hearts of Englishmen." To this observa- 
tion Napoleon made no reply, nor did he give 

an unpleasant look : But he changed the 

subject. 

" Where," said he, " were you educated ?" 
— I replied, "in Edinburgh." — " You have 
very eminent professors there I know : I re- 
member Doctor Brown's system was in repute 
during my first Italian campaign. I have read 
of your other men of note, and I wish you 
would call them to my recollection by repeat- 
ing their names." — I accordingly mentioned 
Black in Chemistry ; Monro in Anatomy and 
Surgery, and Gregory in Physic ; but, at the 
same time I observed, that while I particu- 



( 187 ) 

larized th^se disting^uished characters whose 
pupil I was ; I could name others of equal 
merit in the different schools of the British 

empire. " I never knew," said Napoleon, 

" but one physician who was infallible in his 
diagnostics. He was certain in his discovery 
of the nature and seat of a disease; his name 
was Dubos ; but, strange to say, he could not 
prescribe : and consequently would never un- 
dertake the treatment or cure of a complaint 
whose character his acumen could so accu- 
rately penetrate." I observed, " that he had 
a very able surgeon with him in Egypt, Mon- 
sieur Larry." — " Yes," he answered, " he was 
excellent in his field arrangements ; but 1 
have had men with me who. in scientific 
knowledge, were far superior to him." " Mr. 
Percy," I said, " who joined you on the 
morning of the battle of Austerlitz, had the 
reputation of superior professional talents." — 
" Ah," he exclaimed, with a glow on his coun- 
tenance, " how did you know that ?" I must 
either have read of it in Larry's Publication, 
or heard it mentioned by General Bertrand," 
— He continued. 



( 188 ) 

" It was my intention in France to have 
classed your profession into three divisions, I 
have always respected it : it is a science and 
more than a science ; because it requires a 
knowledge of several : Chemistry, Anatomy, 

Botany, and Physic. For the first class I 

should have selected the most eminent of the 
profession." — " But how, General, would you 
have discovered them?"— By their reputa- 
tion, income, and the figure which they made 
in the world." " But w ould not that plan be 
liable to objection ? many men of merit live 
in obscurity." " Then there let them re- 
main," he said, " what else are they fit for ? if 
I were to choose a surgeon from your fleet, 
should not I take him from the Northumber- 
land in preference to the little Brig?"— '-"There 
General, you may also be mistaken." — "No, no, 
no; a man of talent in every station and con- 
dition in life will discover himself. Depend 
upon it I should be safe, in a general sense, in 
adopting my own plan. The first ranks should 
have had some honorary marks of distinction, 
exclusive of that respect in private life which 
their education will always command. The 



( 189 ) 

third class should be humble in the extreme ; 
nor would they havebeen permitted to ad minis- 
ter any thing beyond the most inoffensive 
medicines." " Perhaps, Sir," I remarked, 
" after such an arrangement, you might, ac- 
cording to our English custom, have submitted 
future candidates to an examination." " Yes," 
he replied, " that might have been right." 

" A physician," continued he, " appears 
to me to resemble a general officer. He must 
be a man of observation and discernment, with 
a penetrating eye. Possessed of these quali- 
ties, he will discover the strength of the 
enemy's position. Thus far, Doctor Dubos 
could go, and no farther. A sagacious prac- 
titioner will just employ sufficient force to 
dispossess the enemy of his strong hold : a 
force beyond that might injure the citadel. 
Now, I think, if you carry your Mercury too 
far you must do mischief: so I say of the 

practice of Sangrado." 1 then expressed to 

him my surprise at the general good health 
which he had uniformly experienced during 
the singular vicissitudes of his extraordinary 



( 190 ) 

life. " Yes," he said, " my health has been 
very good. When the Italian army was en- 
camped in the vicinity of swamps, many suf- 
fered by fever, while I had not any complaint .• 
as I observed temperance and a generally ab- 
stemious balancing" between my appetite and 
the powers of my digestive organs. 1 had, at 
the same time, exercise sufficient, both of the 
body and the mind." — " It was reported, how- 
ever, that you were very ill on your return 

from Egypt." " I was very thin ; and at 

that time subject to a bad cough. For my 
recovery I was indebted to Doctor Corvesart, 
who blistered me twice on the chest." " Re- 
port also said, that you were then subject also 

to an eruption, at least on the skin. Your 

friend Goldsmith says so." — " Yes," he an- 
swered, "1 will tell you." — Never shall I forget 
the pleasant manner in which he related this 
anecdote. 

" At the siege of Toulon, I commanded a 
small battery of two guns. One of your boats 
approached close to the shore, and firing their 
gun, killed two canonneers by my side, I seized 



( 191 ) 

a ram-rod when it fell from the dead soldier's 
warm hand. The man, as it happened, was 
diseased ; and I found myself in a very few 
days suffering under an inveterate Ilch. I 
had recourse to baths for a cure, and at that 
time succeeded. Five years after, I had a 
return of the same complaint with increased 
violence, and I presume it had lurked in my 
blood during the whole interval. Of that I 
was shortly cured, and have never had any 
return." 

I now perceive, my dear that I shall 

bring this letter myself; but I well know it 
will not be the less welcome because the writer 
is the bearer of it. 1 shall therefore con- 
tinue my narrative without any further inter- 
ruption to the end. 

The Newcastle and Orontes appeared from 
the heights of St. Helena on the morning of 
the 19th of June. My delight on the occa- 
sion is not easily to be expressed. 

I now bent my steps to Longwood, where 
1 arrived about ten in the morning : and J 



( 192 ) 

was no sooner known to be there, than Napo- 
leon sent to desire I would breakfast with 
him in the garden. On my appearing he said, 
" you are come take leave of us." — " I am 
come up, General, with thatintention." — "You 
will breakfast then," he added, pointing to a 
chair, which the attendant in waiting imme- 
diately placed for me. The following con- 
versation then took place. 

" Have you had Letters from your friends ?" 
— " No, Sir, the ships cannot reach the 

Bay before evening." " Is the Admiral 

known ?" — " Yes, he is Admiral Malcolm." — 
" Are you glad to return to England ?" — 
" Very glad indeed." — " I am not surprised 
at it : but have you heard any news?" — " The 
last store-ship which came from England, 

brousrht some new Publications :- The 

Quarterly Review; a book stiled 'Paul's 
Letters to his Kinsfolk,' ^c. ; and ' Boyce's 
Buonaparte.'" — "Have you read them?" — 
" 1 have indeed, and with more than common 
interest." — " And what occasioned this parti- 
cular feeling of interest?" — " There is more 



( 193 ) 

truth and candour displayed in these two 
publications than any 1 have hitherto read ; 
and more particularly the work of Mr. Boyce, 
which I should wish you to see." — " Why, 
then, did you not buy it for me ?" — " There 
happened, General, to be but one copy 
on the Island, and it was purchased by a 
gentleman, on his way to China, who wished 
me to read it ; that, by correcting any inac- 
curacies I might observe, the work would 
become doubly interesting to his friends in 
that part of the world." " Is it like the work 
of Helen Maria Williams?" — " Very superior, 
and much more authentic." — " Of what does 
it treat ?"— " Your motives for quitting Elba: 
your subsequent conduct, from your landing 
at Frejus till you embarked in the Bellero- 
phon. They still, however, represent you as 
subject to violent fits of passion, taking hasty 
strides across your apartment, with other im- 
petuous marks of anger and disappointment. 
There is also a pathetic story related of the 
introduction of General Solignac, when he 
waited upon you from the Chamber of De- 
puties, to urge your abdication. This author, 

o 



( 194 ) 

as well as Paul, whose Letters are under a 
feigned name, gives very interesting-particulars 
of Waterloo. It will, I think, make you smile, 
General, when I tell you that your guide La 
Coste is not forgotten. He is represented as 

having been most dreadfully frightened." 

" Frightened ! at what ?"— " At the balls^Sir, 
that were flying about him. It is said also, 
that you, at the time, rallied and consoled him 
with the assurance, that it was much more 
honourable to receive a ball in the breast than 
iu the back. Besides, he is made to complain, 
that he was very inadequately recompensed 
for the labour and dangers of the day : that a 
single Napoleon was his only reward." Na- 
poleon instantly replied, with an intelligent 
smile, " It might as well have been said five 
hundred." — I continued : — 

'^ JMr. Boyce appears to me to have been 
very attentive to accuracy in his report of the 
two contending armies" — " What number" 
I was instantly asked, " does he give to that 
of France ? " He quotes from an officer, and 
makes them to have been seventy thousand." 



( 195 ) 

The reply was — " I had seventy-one thou- 
sand : and how many English is it stated there 
were in the field ?" — " Including the German 
Legion, I understand there were thirty thou- 
sand British troops ; which, united with the 
Belgians, Hanoverians, and Brunswickers, 
formed an whole of sixty-eight thousand 
men.'* — " How many Prussians were there 
under Bulow ?" — " I cannot correctly say, 
perhaps fifteen thousand.'* — " And how many 
on the arrival of Blucher, in the evening ?" — 
*' I really do not know : but it is said that the 
Duke of Wellington acknowledges how very 
happy he felt at the appearance of his old 
friend ; and that the person did not exist who 
could have been more welcome to him in the 
course of the evening than Blucher/' 

Ever since I had enjoyed an occasional 
communication with Napoleon, I never ceased 
to be animated with a strong and curious desire, 
to learn his opinion of our renowned Comman- 
der. I had repeatedly heard that he did not 
withhold it, but I could never ascertain the 
fact on any certain authority. The present 
o2 



( 196 ) 

moment appeared to afford me the opportu-^ 
nfty which 1 had so anxiously sought ; as he 
seemed to be in a temper of more than usual 
communication and courtesy, though I have 
never had reason to complain of either. At all 
hazards, ! therefore resolved to make the trial ; 
as it might be the only opportunity I should 
ever possess. — " The people of England," I 
said, " appear to feel an interest in knowing 
your sentiments respecting the military cha- 
racter of the Duke of Wellington. They 
have no doubt that you would be just ; and, 
perhaps, they may indulge the expectation 
that your justice would produce an eulogium 
of which the Duke of Wellington might be 
proud. ^' Silence ensued : I began to think 
that I might have gone rather too far ; for it 
is most true, that I had never before addressed 
him without looking full in his face for a reply, 
but my eyes dropped at the pause, and no 
reply was made. This, however, was the 
second question I had ever asked which 
remained a moment unanswered. 

At the same time, he did not appear, to be. 



{ 197 ) 

in the least displeased ; as in a few minutes lie 
renewed the conversation with this inquiry. 

" You mentioned a Review what does it 

contain?" "Criticisms on new Publications as 
they appear ; and this Number observes upon 
three publications that relate to you : one in 
particular, said to be by a Lieutenant of the 
Bellerophon." — " What could he find on my 
subject to work up into abook?" — " lam almost 
ashamed, General, to repeat to you the trash 
these publicationscontain : indeed, it surprised 
me, that so respectable a work as this Review 
should condescend to notice them, and quote 
such silly falsehoods ; nor can it be accounted 
for in any other way, than a desire to gratify 
the public impatience to be informed of every 
thing and any thing that may relate to you. It 
contains, among other misinformations, ac- 
counts of your conduct and demeanour while 
you resided at the Briars. You will judge of 
the ingenuity of its inventions when I add, that 
he mentions your being angry with one of the 
little girls, because she was ignorant of your 
coin, the Napoleon, You are also represented, 
on the same authority, as having been in ^ 



( 198 ) 

great rage with one of her brothers, for having 
shown you the picture of the Great Mogul 
on a pack of cards. Nay, Sir, Monsieur De 
las Cases does not escape : for he is sent to the 
side-board to play at Patience^ until the new 
pack would deal with more facility." — " Your 
Editors," said Napoleon, " are infinitely 
amusing : but is it to be supposed that they 
believe what they write." "At least, Sir, I pre- 
sume, that they hope to amuse those who read. 
There is, however, another work, which, from 
its apparent authenticity, has been received 
with attention. It is written by a Frenchman, 
the Abbe Pradt." I was now perfectly con- 
founded by a general, and, as it appeared, an 
involuntary laugh ; with an exclamation of 
" O, the Abbe !" — It appears that this person- 
age was the very humblest of the most humble 
adulators of Napoleon : he had been in a low 
situation in the Police, but possessed qualities 
that are favourable to advancement in such 
times as those in which he lived. •' He had 
both cunning and humour," said Napoleon, 
" and I took him with me when I went ta 
Spain ; and, as I had to wage vt ar with mona^- 



( 199 ) 

teries, I found the Abbe a phalanx against the 
dominion of Priests. De las Cases," he added, 
" will give you fifty entertaining anecdotes of 
the Abbe. — Can you tell me what is become of 
him.'^" — " I really have not heard. Re also 
gives a description of your return to Warsaw 
after the disasters in Russia ; which, I doubt 
not, would amuse you. He describes a tall 
figure entering his hotel wrapped in fur, more 
resembling a being of the other world than 
any thing earthly. — Tt was Caulincourt. — 
He says, likewise, you were concealed at 
the English Hotel, where he procured you 
some excellent wine. This Review, how- 
ever, does not spare the Abbe, who declaies 
that the subjugation of Russia was inevitable, 
had it not been for the sagacity of one man : 
* And pray, 'says the Reviewer, 'who is this man? 
— Why, no less a personage than the Abbe 
Pradt, who would have it thought that by 
his roguery he out-witted his Master.' " Na- 
poleon does not often laugh ; but the story, or 
the idea of the Abbe, or perhaps both, brought 
his risible faculties into complete exertion; 



( 200 ) 

Unroll your Map of Flanders, my friend ; 
display it in due form on your table, and fol- 
low me, if you can. I was this morning cu- 
riously gratified by a military description of 
the various movements of the French army, 
on Napoleon s Charts from the day it passed 
the Sambre to the eventful battle of Waterloo. 
I naturally expected, as you may suppose, a 
detail of those various circumstances by which 
it was lost, or, which amounts to the same 
thing, — The why and the wherefore it was 
not gained. My conjecture was not ill- 
founded, for Gourgond proceeded to point 
out to me the errors which were committed 
by some of the principal commanders in the 
French army, and proved so fatal to the last 
great effort of their Imperial Master. These 
he traced with a readiness and perspicuity 
which induced me to imagine, at the time, 
that I clearly comprehended the whole. 
Nevertheless, I have my doubts, whether 
I shall make the errors of these blundering 
captains as clear to you, as they were, in my 
fancy, made apparent to me. 



( 201 ) 

Napoleon, it seems, was completely igno- 
rant of the movement made from Frasnes, by 
Count Erelon, (Drouet) on the 16th. For 
when he appeared near Ligny, Napoleon ac- 
tually deployed a column of French to oppose 
him, mistaking his force at the time, for a 
division of the Prussian army. — Erelon was 
now made acquainted with the defeat of the 
Prussians ; and, without thinking it necessary 
to have any communication with Napoleon, 
as to future operations, returned to his ori- 
ginal position. That division of the army, 
therefore, became totally useless for that day 
both to the Emperor and to Marshal Ney. — 
Grouchy, losing sight of Blucher, and taking 
the circuitous route which he pursued, was 
represented as having committed a most fatal 
error. — While the right wing of the French, 
in the battle of the l8th was engaged, in de- 
feating the flankmovementof Bulow, of which 
they were perfectly apprised, Marshal Ney 
had orders to engage the attention of the 
English during this part of the action ; but by 
no means_to hazard the loss of his troops, or to 
exhaust their strength. Ney, it appears, did not 



( 202 ) 

obey the order, or met with circumstances that 
rendered it impracticable lor him to adhere to 
it. He was stated to have contended for the 
occupation of a height and thus weakened his 
corps, so that when the Imperial guards were 
brought to the charge, he was unable to 
assist them. — 1 understood that Napoleon had 
crossed the Sambre with 111,000 men. In 
the battles of Ligny and Quatre Bras he lost 
10,000. Grouchy's division consisted of 
30 000 detached to follow Blucher, leaving an 
effective force, on the morning of the 18th of 
71,000. I hope you will comprehend my 
account, which I think was the purport of 
General Gourgond*s statement to me ; though 
I do not know any two characters more liable 
to a small share of perplexity, than a sailor 
describing a terra firma battle ; and a soldier 
entering into the particulars of a naval engage- 
ment. — But, by way of climax, 1 was assured 
that the report of Buonaparte's standing on an 
elevated wooden frame to obtain acommanding 
view of the field of battle, is altogether a mis- 
representation. — It was, on the contrary, a 
raised mound of earth, where he placed himself 



( 203 ) 

with his staff; and the ground being sloppy 
and slippery, he ordered some trusses of straw 
to be placed under his feet to keep them dry, 
and prevent his sliding. 

This was the last visit I paid to Napoleon : 
and when I took my leave of him, he rose 
from his chair, and said, " I wish you health 
and happiness, and a safe voyage to your 
country, where I hope you will find your 
friends in health and ready to receive you." 

I had been uniformly treated with such 
respectful kindness, and, in some degree, 
with such partial confidence, by General Ber- 
trand, Mons. de las Cases, and, indeed, by 
every one of the suite, that I could not take 
my leave of them without a considerable de- 
gree of sensibility. A more amiable, united 
and delightful family than that of General 
Bertrand 1 never yet saw : nor is his affection 
as a husband, and his fondness as a fatbev> 
less striking than his fidelity to his Master. 

And here I conclude my Narrative. 



( 204 ) 

If any other little matters should occur to my 
recollection, I can make a kind of Post- 
script of them. The sketch which you 

desired of St. Helena, may be the subject of 
conversation hereafter, by your hospitable and 

friendly fire-side. In the mean time, and 

at all times, 

I am, &c. &c. 

W. W. 



ADDITIONAL NOTICES, 

Captain Piontowski, an officer in the Po- 
lish troops attached to Buonaparte's person, 
who had accompanied him to Elba, and had 
a command in the little army that landed in 
France, formed one of the suite which accom- 
panied the Ex-emperor to England. — He v/as, 
however, refused to attend the exile of his 
fallen Master. The disappointment he suf- 
fered, on the occasion, was extreme ; and he 
still continued to persevere in his application 
to follow that fortune to which a sense of the 



( 205 ) 

most ardent and affectionate duty impelled 
him. Notwithstanding a Lady from France, 
to whom he had been betrothed, joined him 
at Plymouth and married him, he still most 
zealously adhered to his original object; and, 
having at length obtained the sanction of go- 
vernment, he took his passage in a store-ship 
for St. Helena. — The arrival of this faithful 
follower was not expected : Napoleon, how- 
ever, could not but be sensible of his attach- 
ment, and received him with kindness, But 
neither his situation, nor his manners were 
such as to associate him with the suite, nor 
did his modesty appear to expect it. An 
apartment was assigned him by the Generals ; 
and Mr. O'Meara, the Surgeon, thinking he 
was neglected, with that goodness of heart 
and generous nature which distinguishes hi» 
character, made him welcome to his table. 
Such were the amiable and unassuming man- 
ners of the romantic Pole, that this distant 
treatment of him was a subject of general ani- 
madversion; and a want of generous feel- 
ing was attributed to ISapoleon, for inatten- 
tion to such an evident example of fidelity. 



( 206 ) 

But this afterwards appeared to be a ground- 
less suspicion. The Captain occupied his 
garret during the night, and occasionally 
amused himself with his gun during ihe day ; 
happy in the enthusiastic satisfaction of 
sharing the fate of the great object of his 
idolatry. It happened, however, in one of his 
sporting excursions, that his piece accidentally 
went ofFin the act of loading it ; and very se- 
verely wounded his right-hand. With this mis- 
chance Napoleon became acquainted, and ex- 
pressed a desire to see and console him: but, 
previous to the execution of this kind inten- 
tion, a female servant of General Montholon 
was removed from one of the very comfortable 
rooms at Longwood, and Piontowski was con- 
veyed thither. The following day. Napoleon 
paid him the projected visit, but without sus- 
pecting he had been in any other apartment, 
and amply repaid his devoted Pole for the 
wound in his hand, by giving such a warm 
delight to his honest and faithful heart. 

In speaking of different diseases to which 
the human frame was subject, a favourite topic 



( 207 ) 

with Napoleon, when a professional man was 
by any means admitted to him, the small-pox 
happened to be mentioned ; and he instantly 
entered upon the discovery of vaccination, 
with which he appeared to be perfectly ac- 
quainted, and whose beneficial effects he 
mentioned with the highest encomiums. Nor 
did his observation close without their usual 

finale an interrogatory. — " Have not the 

people of England given me some credit, for 
my having adopted, encouraged, and indeed 
decreed, the rigid observance of T>r. Jenners 
Si/stem /" 



The quiet, unassuming demeanour of the 
persons composing the suite of Napoleon, 
never knew any interruption, on the deck of 
the Northumberland, where we held our con- 
versation, but when General Gourgond chose 
to display the bloody track of his heroic feats 
in the field. No idea, however, is intended 
to be conveyed of his exceeding the real 
prowess of his military character ; but only 
that he loved to talk about it, when his former 



( 1208 ) 

companions in arms were silent. Among' 
other proofs of his hair-breadth 'scapes, he 
was fond of exhibiting a sword, whose renown, 
as well as that of its owner, was engraved on 
the blade; and whose inscription related, 
that with this mighty and glorious weapon he 
saved the life of Napoleon, in Russia, when 
it was threatened by the uplifted arm of a 
fierce and avenging Cossack. 



The following is a correct abstract of a 
conversation had with General Bertrand ; 
when, and particularly at the commencement 
of it, his feelings appeared to be very strongly 

excited.- He acknowledged very fully, and 

lamented very sensibly, the too extended 
grasp of Napoleon's ambition. — " It was in 
" itself a grand and noble principle, and, left 
" to its own original objects, and confined to 
" its natural operations, might have proved 
" a source of extensive good and untarnished 
" glory. But evil councils, and who can, at 
"all moments, and under all circumstances, 



( 209 ) 

" repel their insinuating or momentary influ- 
" ence, provoked the excesses, which have 
" been so often seen to strip the most com- 
" manding of all passions, of its associate 

" virtues." Here his opinion seemed to 

point to Maret, Duke of Bassano, as the cause 
of unspeakable mischief, and an example that 
inferior spirits are sometimes permitted to 
influence minds of a far higher order ; and 
not unfrequently to their dishonour, if not 

to their ruin. " Napoleon," he added, 

"is a most extraordinary and wonderful 
" man." — The conversation proceeded, and 
J replied. > 

" That is not to be doubted : but I wish to 
'* see more of the ordinary man in him. Could 
" I but observe him endearingly caressing 
" children, as you, General, do your Hortentia 
" and your Henry ; or playing with a dog, or 
'* patting his horse, I should consider him with 
" very different sentiments from those which 
" I now feel." — " Believe me, dear Doctor, he 
" is a man totally different from all others." 
p 



( 210 ) 

" That may be : but 1 want him to possess 
" certain qualities in common with ordinary 
" men, and I wish you would tell me that he 
" discovers, at any time, the feelings of afFec- 
" tion and tenderness ; the capacity to be a 
" kind husband and a fond parent/* 

" That I can most assuredly do. He is 
' not without a heart, in your sense of the 
' expression. But he does not, cannot, will 
* not make a parade of it. Is it possible that 
' you should expect any thing of a frivolous, 
' or trifling appearance from him ; and, in a 
' character like his, the amiable playfulness 
' of private domestic life, might have such a 
' semblance : besides, the individual feelings 
' of the man must, after all, be lost to those 
' who only view him in the blaze of his public 

life." 

— " But that blaze, General Bertrand, is 
" now extinguished ; and 1 wish for his sake, 
" and the honour of human nature, that the 
*' symptoms of love, tenderness, and attach- 



( 211 ) 

*' ment might appear, in some direction or 
" other, to beam from him." 



" You may believe me, when I assure 
you, that though they may not have ap- 
peared to you, they are by no means want- 
ing in him. — By way of example, imagine 
a day as it used to be passed at the Thuil- 

levies : 1 will describe it to you. At six 

in the morning he would be examining a 
Russian dispatch ; at seven, the same from 
Vienna ; at eight, he might visit a work of 
art ; at ten, a review succeeded ; at twelve, 
the reception of some department ; at one, 
the affairs of the army ; at four, a Prefect 
demanded audience ; at six, perhaps, he 
had appointed to meet the Empress, whom 
he would treat with every mark of kindness 
and affection ; admire, with a . Parisian 
gallantry, the embroidery of her gown, the 
folds of her robe, the flowers in her hair, or 
the display of jewels on her person : while 
he would continue devoted to her, till public 
business again required his attention ; to 
which he was ever in a state of prepara- 
p 2 



( 212 ) 

" tion. He was never sensual, never gross, 

" but in an unceasing state of action." 

Count de las Cases continued the subject. 

" He never speaks of himself ; he never 
" mentions his achievements. Of money he 
" is totally regardless ; and he was not known 
" to express a regret for any part of his trea- 
" sure but the diamond necklace, which he 
*' wore constantly in his neckcloth, because 
" it was the gift of his sister, the Princess 
" Bourgoise, whom he tenderly loved." This 
he lost, after the battle of Waterloo. 



I was naturally induced to make a sketch 
of the state and position of our passengers, at 
the moment when we came to an anchor, off 
St. Helena ; but, having mislaid it at the mo- 
ment when I wrote the account of our arrival 
in one of the foregoing Letters, I then stated 
it from the general recollection of the instant. 
Having now recovered the sketch, I have 



( 213 ) 

added it as a more exact picture of the scene, 
and which I have been persuaded will not be 
considered as an impertinent repetition. 

The morning was pleasant, and the 
breeze steady : at dawn we were sufficiently 
near to behold the black peak of St. Helena. 
Between eight and nine, we were close under 
the Sugar-Loaf Hill. The whole of the French 
party had quitted their cabins, with the ex- 
ception of Napoleon, and taken their re- 
spective stations. — On the right stood Ma- 
dame Montholon, with her arm entwined 
in that of the General, her husband. Her 
look seemed to ask a cheering influence from 
him : I could fancy that she said, — " If this 
is to be my lot, still I have you for my com- 
fort ; and there is Tristram, that little darling, 
who will be a comfort to us both." On the 
poop sat Madame Bertrand, and the Marshal 
stood behind her. I was the only unoccupied 
person belonging to the ship, and could 
therefore, undisturbed, contemplate the scene 
around me. I was afraid to approach Ma- 
dame Bertrand, for I was near enough to 



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